Balance deficiencies in women with fibromyalgia assessed using computerised dynamic posturography: a cross-sectional study in Spain

Abstract

Objectives: Our aims were (1) to compare the sensory organisation of balance control and balance strategies between women with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy women; (2) to investigate which sensory component, that is, vestibular, visual or somato-sensory, is the most affected in FM and (3) to determine the associations between the functional independence measure (FIM) and balance responses in FM.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Urban regional hospital and university (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain).

Participants: Twenty women with FM and 20 matched healthy women.

Primary/secondary outcome measures: The sensory organisation test (SOT) was used to determine postural sway and balance during six different conditions with subjects in a standing position. The FIM was used to determine the level of functional independence in daily life activities (ADL). Between-group differences were analysed with analysis of covariance, and the Spearman's test was used for correlations.

Results: Significant differences between-groups and between-conditions were found for all SOT conditions (all, p<0.001): women with FM showed lower scores being the vestibular score the most affected. Different correlations between SOT conditions and some specific ADL were observed in the FM group: bathing activity and balance condition 6 (r_s=0.541; p<0.001), bed transfers activity and conditions 2 (r_s=0.491; p<0.001) and 3 (r_s=0.510; p<0.001), positioning strategy six and dressing the upper (r_s=0.530; p<0.001) or lower (r_s=0.562; p<0.001) body, and toileting (r_s=0.521; p<0.001): the greater the loss of balance, the greater the interference on some daily life activities.

Conclusions: Women with FM exhibited balance deficiencies and used different strategies for maintaining their balance in standing, which was associated with a negative impact on functional independence.

Keywords: fibromyalgia; patient positioning; postural balance.