New research indicates patients with fibromyalgia have difficulty with activities of daily living, and also exhibit both reduced muscle strength and high incidence of reported falls.
Sixteen females with fibromyalgia and 16 healthy women participated in the study, according to an abstract published on www.pubmed.gov. Pain intensity, fibromyalgia impact on quality of life, physical activity level and fall prevalence were assessed.
Women with fibromyalgia showed reduced functional performance and lower limb muscle strength, mostly explained by pain, the abstract noted. “There was a high prevalence of falls in this population, as explained by hip extensors rate of torque development, duration of fibromyalgia symptoms and pain.”
This research was conducted by investigators with the Sector of Biological Sciences, Physical Education Department/Center for Motor Behaviour Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil and was published in the journal Clinical Biomechanics.
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