Physical Condition Factors that Predict a Better Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia

Abstract

What physical qualities can predict the quality of life (QoL) in women with fibromyalgia (FM)? QoL is a very complex outcome affected by multiple comorbidities in people with fibromyalgia. This study aims to determine which physical qualities can predict the quality of life in women with FM. Also, a comparison between the physical qualities of women with FM and healthy counterparts was conducted. In total, 223 women participated in this cross-sectional study, 123 with FM, with ages ranging between 45 and 70 years. The study was conducted at several fibromyalgia associations and specialized medical units. QoL was measured as the main outcome. In addition, functional capacity, muscular strength, maintenance of thoracic posture, postural control, flexibility, pain threshold, and anxiety were measured. Prediction of the QoL was conducted with multiple linear regression analysis and comparison between groups, using the Mann–Whitney U test. There were significant differences between groups in all the variables measured (p < 0.01). The multiple linear regression model showed that factors influencing QoL in women with FM for all the variables measured were functional capacity, handgrip strength and bicep strength, maintenance of thoracic posture, pain threshold, and anxiety (R2 = 0.53, p < 0.05). To conclude, women with FM show a significantly lower QoL than their healthy counterparts, and the factors that predict their perceived QoL are functional capacity, muscular strength, postural maintenance, pain threshold, and anxiety.

Alteration of Postural Balance in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Of these, 345 were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria (reasons for their exclusion are showed in Figure 1 ). Finally, 19 studies [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ] were included in the review.…”

“…The methodological quality of the included studies assessed by the NOS ( Table 3 ) was medium (NOS mean quality of 4.21 ± 0.78 stars). Three studies [ 43 , 44 , 48 ] (16% of the total) were scored as low quality and 16 studies [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ] (84% of all) were medium quality. A possible risk of selection and confounding bias was present due to the little information provided by the included studies of the characteristics of exposed and non-exposed (S1, S2, S3 and S4 items) and its comparability (C1).…”

Functional Status and Body Mass Index in Postmenopausal Women with Fibromyalgia: A Case–control Study

“…Regarding functional capacity, Carbonell-Baeza showed that multidisciplinary interventions alone might improve body flexibility in FMS patients [30]. Interestingly, previous case–control studies have been conducted, relating functional status and BMI to other psychological variables [37,38,39,40,41]. Sampere-Rubio et al reported that women with FM show a significantly lower QoL than their healthy counterparts, and the factors that predict their perceived QoL are functional capacity, muscular strength, postural maintenance, pain threshold, and anxiety [37].…”

“…Interestingly, previous case–control studies have been conducted, relating functional status and BMI to other psychological variables [37,38,39,40,41]. Sampere-Rubio et al reported that women with FM show a significantly lower QoL than their healthy counterparts, and the factors that predict their perceived QoL are functional capacity, muscular strength, postural maintenance, pain threshold, and anxiety [37]. In this line, higher depression ranges were shown in women who suffered from FMS with respect to healthy controls, regardless of age distribution [39], and adolescents with FMS were found be more sensitive to pressure pain than their healthy peers [40].…”

¿Es la fuerza de prensión manual un buen indicador de condición física y composición corporal en pacientes con cáncer de mama que han terminado los tratamientos centrales de la enfermedad? Estudio EFICAN

“…En la población general, mayores niveles de fuerza muscular han demostrado estar relacionados con una disminución del riesgo de desarrollar enfermedad cardiovascular y de mortalidad prematura 6 . Concretamente, la fuerza de prensión manual (FPM), ha sido propuesta como un indicador de salud muy relevante en diferentes poblaciones: adultos mayores 7 , jóvenes 8 , mujeres con fibromialgia 9 , etc., permitiendo obtener información muy útil a través de una evaluación sencilla, rápida y de muy bajo coste.…”