Physical fitness reference standards in fibromyalgia: The al‐Ándalus project

Abstract

We aimed (1) to report age-specific physical fitness levels in people with fibromyalgia of a representative sample from Andalusia; and (2) to compare the fitness levels of people with fibromyalgia with non-fibromyalgia controls. This cross-sectional study included 468 (21 men) patients with fibromyalgia and 360 (55 men) controls. The fibromyalgia sample was geographically representative from southern Spain. Physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Test battery plus the handgrip test. We applied the Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape to calculate percentile curves for women and fitted mean curves using a linear regression for men. Our results show that people with fibromyalgia reached worse performance in all fitness tests than controls (P < 0.001) in all age ranges (P < 0.001). This study provides a comprehensive description of age-specific physical fitness levels among patients with fibromyalgia and controls in a large sample of patients with fibromyalgia from southern of Spain. Physical fitness levels of people with fibromyalgia from Andalusia are very low in comparison with age-matched healthy controls. This information could be useful to correctly interpret physical fitness assessments and helping health care providers to identify individuals at risk for losing physical independence.

Effects of 24‐week exergame intervention on physical function under single‐ and dual‐task conditions in fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial

“…Comparing the results of our study with normative data, we can observe how the exergame intervention led to obtain a score in the arm curl test, even in dual‐task condition, higher than normative data for fibromyalgia patients. Furthermore, results in the back scratch test are worth mentioning, since significant improvements were only observed under dual‐task condition in that test.…”

Effects of a functional training program in patients with fibromyalgia: A 9‐year prospective longitudinal cohort study

“…32 However, the AG obtained even better values (15.33 ± 3,76 repetitions) than the healthy group 60-64 years of age (14.50 ± 4.0 repetitions) 32 or similar values for Spanish healthy women 40-49 years of age (15.46 ± 2.92 repetitions). 9 According to the reference values of physical fitness in women with FM, 40 the AG is located between 90th and 99th percentile, and the CG is located in 60th percentile.…”

“…9 However, the CG achieved the lowest results, below the 25th percentile (14.58 ± 6.35 kg). Specially, taking into account reference values of physical fitness in women with FM, 40 the AG is located between 60th and 70th percentile; however, the CG is located in 30th percentile. Aparicio et al 42 suggested that the handgrip strength test could discriminate between the presence and absence of FM and help determine FM severity in women.…”

“…46 In this study, the CG showed 6MWT distance at 22.82% lower than in the AG. According to the reference values of physical fitness in women with FM, 40 the AG is located between 90th and 99th percentile. Nevertheless, the CG is located in 30th percentile.…”

Fibromiyalji Sendromu Olan Kadınlarda Denge, Endurans ve Esnekliğin Değerlendirilmesi

“…Literatürde FMS olan hastalarda fiziksel uygunluk parametrelerinin değerlendirildiği farklı çalışmalar bulunmaktadır (23,24). Ancak bu çalışmalar incelendiğinde aerobik uygunluk, kas kuvveti, esneklik, motor çeviklik gibi parametrelerin değerlendirildiği görülmektedir.…”