Impaired functional capacity and exacerbation of pain and exertion during the 6-minute walk test in women with fibromyalgia.
BACKGROUND
Fibromyalgia has been association with physical performance limitations. Additionally, activities of daily living have been reported to be directly associated with the exacerbation of pain and perceived exertion in this patient population.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the performance of a 6-minute walk (6MWT) test in patients with fibromyalgia and controls and to evaluate the relationship between test performance and quality of life, limitations of activities of daily living and physical activity level.


METHODS
The study included 19 women with fibromyalgia (FM) and 20 healthy controls (CG). A 6MWT was conducted and pain intensity and perceived effort (PE) were assessed during the test. In addition, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were applied.


RESULTS
The fibromyalgia group walked significantly shorter distances when compared to the control group (FM: 473.52±77.84 m vs. CG: 541.75±85.62 m; p=0.02). In the fibromyalgia group, there was a negative correlation between distance in 6MWT and FIQ (r=-0.46; p=0.05), HAQ (r=-0.49; p=0.03) and oxygen consumption (r=0.78; p<0.01). There was also a correlation between HAQ and oxygen consumption (r=0.52; p=0.02). Participants with fibromyalgia had higher pain intensity and perceived effort during the test when compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with fibromyalgia had greater impaired of functional capacity, exacerbation of pain and exertion during the 6MWT when compared to healthy women.
Center for Research in Quality of Life (NQV), Department of Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Diogo
D
Homann
Joice M F
JM
Stefanello
Suelen M
SM
Góes
Neiva
N
Leite
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult