Ankle dorsiflexion may play an important role in falls in women with fibromyalgia

Abstract Background Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition, which involves reduced range of motion. This leads to gait changes and high incidence of falls. The understanding of the gait patterns in subjects with fibromyalgia and their relationship with falls may be useful when designing interventi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical biomechanics (Bristol) 2015-07, Vol.30 (6), p.593-598
Main Authors: Góes, Suelen M, Leite, Neiva, Stefanello, Joice M.F, Homann, Diogo, Lynn, Scott K, Rodacki, André L.F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidental Falls
Adult
Ankle Joint - physiopathology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Chronic pain
Falls
Female
Fibromyalgia - complications
Fibromyalgia - physiopathology
Gait
Gait - physiology
Hip Joint - physiopathology
Humans
Joint kinematic
Middle Aged
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Range of Motion, Articular
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Summary:Abstract Background Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition, which involves reduced range of motion. This leads to gait changes and high incidence of falls. The understanding of the gait patterns in subjects with fibromyalgia and their relationship with falls may be useful when designing intervention programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the range of motion of the hip and ankle joints during gait in women with and without fibromyalgia. Further, we determined the relationship between joint range of motion and falls in this population. Methods Middle-aged women (16 with fibromyalgia and 16 as control group) were recruited. Pain intensity, physical activity level, and fall prevalence were assessed. Three dimensional gait analysis provided temporal and joint kinematic variables. Findings In general, hip and ankle range of motion were similar between groups, except that fibromyalgia group showed higher plantar flexion during toe-off ( P < 0.05) and reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase ( P < 0.05). Additionally, in the fibromyalgia group the higher number of falls was correlated to reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase. This limitation in dorsiflexion was related to longer length of time with fibromyalgia symptoms. Interpretation Women with fibromyalgia showed a higher number of falls, reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase, and increased plantar flexion during toe-off. Also, the higher number of falls reported in the fibromyalgia group was related to reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase, which was correlated to a longer length of time living with fibromyalgia symptoms. These data suggest that improving ankle kinematics in patients with fibromyalgia may help prevent falls and improve mobility.
ISSN:0268-0033
1879-1271
DOI:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2015.03.026