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Cited by 28Balance, Gait, and Falls PreventionFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchMotor Control and Adaptation

Characterization of postural control impairment in women with fibromyalgia

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Sempere-Rubio, Núria, López-Pascual, Juan, Aguilar-Rodríguez, Marta, Cortés-Amador, Sara, Espí-López, Gemma, Villarrasa-Sapiña, Israel, Serra-Añó, Pilar·2018·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0196575PMC PMC5933724
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Abstract

The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to detect whether women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have altered postural control and to study the sensory contribution to postural control. We also explored the possibility that self-induced anxiety and lower limb strength may be related to postural control. For this purpose, 129 women within an age range of 40 to 70 years were enrolled. Eighty of the enrolled women had FMS. Postural control variables, such as Ellipse, Root mean square (RMS) and Sample entropy (SampEn), in both directions (i.e. mediolateral and anteroposterior), were calculated under five different conditions. A force plate was used to register the center of pressure shifts. Furthermore, isometric lower limb strength was recorded with a portable dynamometer and normalized by lean body mass. The results showed that women with FMS have impaired postural control compared with healthy people, as they presented a significant increase in Ellipse and RMS values (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in SampEn in both directions (p<0.05). Postural control also worsens with the gradual alteration of sensory inputs in this population (p<0.05). Performing a stressor dual task only impacts Ellipse in women with FMS (p>0.05). There were no significant correlations between postural control and lower limb strength (p>0.05). Therefore, women with FMS have impaired postural control that is worse when sensory inputs are altered but is not correlated with their lower limb strength.

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  • Patients with chronic pain often have deficits in motor performance, including restricted movement or altered motor planning, leading to posture, gait and balance insufficiencies.

    “Patients with chronic pain often have deficits in motor performance, including restricted movement or altered motor planning,20 leading to posture, gait and balance insufficiencies.19,21”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Conclusions (page unavailable) report impaired postural control in women with fibromyalgia, supporting the posture and balance portion of the clause cited to this paper. The study does not establish gait impairment or extend its finding to patients with chronic pain generally; it also does not show that motor deficits caused the postural impairment. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Over 80% of FM patients report severe fatigue, which significantly impairs postural control and motor performance.

    “Over 80% of FM patients report severe fatigue, which significantly impairs postural control and motor performance.3,8,21”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Introduction identifies fatigue as a feature of fibromyalgia, and the Discussion calls it one of the population’s most common symptoms. The Discussion and Conclusions report impaired postural control in women with fibromyalgia. The paper does not give an over-80% prevalence for severe fatigue or establish that fatigue significantly impairs postural control and motor performance. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • FM patients show reduced muscle strength and altered joint mechanics during functional movements like jumping.

    “FM patients show reduced muscle strength and altered joint mechanics during functional movements like jumping.21,30”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes loss of strength as common in people with fibromyalgia, and the Methods report measuring lower-limb strength. The paper studies postural control during standing, not joint mechanics during movements such as jumping; that part of the claim is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • More than 80% of people with fibromyalgia experience poor sleep quality with severe fatigue.

    “More than 80% of people with FM experience poor sleep quality with severe fatigue impacting depression,3 pain perception, physical functioning10 and exercise adherence.2,17,21”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Introduction describes fatigue as a clinical feature of fibromyalgia, and the Discussion calls it one of the population’s most common symptoms. Neither passage establishes that fatigue is severe or that more than 80% of people with fibromyalgia experience poor sleep quality alongside it; a sleep-quality study appears only in the References. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Patients with FM present with slower gait speed, reduced stride length, delayed gait initiation, altered postural sway, and altered muscle activation patterns during walking.

    “Patients with FM present with slower gait speed, reduced stride length, delayed gait initiation, altered postural sway,2,21 and altered muscle activation patterns during walking.30”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [21]

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Cited by

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Authors
Sempere-Rubio, N., López-Pascual, J., Aguilar-Rodríguez, M., Cortés-Amador, S., Espí-López, G., Villarrasa-Sapiña, I., & Serra-Añó, P.
Affiliations
  • Biomechanics Institute of Valencia (ES)
  • Universitat de València (ES)
ORCID
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2018-05-03
Volume
13
Issue
5
Pages
e0196575
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0196575
PMC
PMC5933724
OpenAlex
W2801433444
Cited by
28
References
5
Citations by year
2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2
FWCI
7.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RiuNet (Universitat Politècnica de València) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Repository of Digital Objects for Teaching Research and Culture (University of Valencia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Conselleria d’Educació, Ciència i Esports (GV2016/140)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
Keywords
fibromyalgia, postural control, postural sway, sensory input, dual-task performance, lower limb strength, center of pressure, women, sample entropy
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Biomechanical Phenomena, Cross-Sectional Studies, Postural Balance, Female, Fibromyalgia, Humans, Middle Aged, Sensation Disorders, Case-Control Studies, Lower Extremity, Muscle Strength

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