Citation

GÓes SM, Stefanello JM, Homann D, Lodovico A, Hubley-Kozey CL, Rodacki AL. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2016; 30(11): 3155-3164.

Affiliation

1Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Faculty of Health Professions / Dynamics of Human Motion Laboratory. E-mail: su.goes@gmail.com 2Federal University of Paraná- Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Physical Education Department / Center for Motor Behaviour Studies. E-mail: joicemfstefanello@gmail.com 3Federal University of Paraná- Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Physical Education Department / Center of Quality of life. E-mail: diogomann@hotmail.com 4Federal University of Paraná- Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Physical Education Department / Center for Motor Behaviour Studies. E-mail: angelicalodovico@yahoo.com.br 5Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Faculty of Health Professions / Dynamics of Human Motion Laboratory. E-mail: cheryl.kozey@dal.ca 6Federal University of Paraná- Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Physical Education Department / Center for Motor Behaviour Studies. E-mail: andrerodacki@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000001395

PMID

26937773

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition associated with reduced muscle strength, which can lead to functional incapacity and higher risk of falls.

PURPOSE: The study purpose was to compare maximal ankle joint torque, muscle activation and metabolic changes between women with and without fibromyalgia. Additionally, the relationship between those aspects and retrospectively reported falls in women with fibromyalgia were determined.

METHODS: Twenty-nine middle-aged women with fibromyalgia and 30 controls were recruited. Fall history, pain intensity and threshold were assessed. Plasma glucose levels and insulin resistance were determined. Peak torque and rate of torque development were calculated and muscle activation was assessed from maximum isometric voluntary ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion contractions. In addition, voluntary muscle activation failure of the anterior tibialis muscle during maximal dorsiflexion was calculated.

RESULTS: When compared to controls, women with fibromyalgia reported higher number of retrospectively reported falls, exhibited higher insulin resistance, showed reduced plantar flexion and dorsiflexion rate of torque development, had lower plantar flexion peak torque, and demonstrate more antagonist co-activation and higher muscle activation failure (p<0.05). Higher muscle activation failure was explained by glucose level and pain intensity (Radj=0.28; p<0.05). Reduced plantar flexion and dorsiflexion peak torque explained 80% of retrospectively reported falls variance; also, high antagonist co-activation (OR=1.6; p<0.05) and high insulin resistance (OR=1.8; p<0.05) increased the chance of falls in the fibromyalgia group.

CONCLUSION: A combination of metabolic factors and muscle function increased the odds of retrospectively reporting a fall in fibromyalgia. Both aspects may be considered in interventions designed for reducing falls in this population.

Language: en