title: Ankle dorsiflexion may play an important role in falls in women with fibromyalgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition, which involves reduced range of motion. This leads to gait changes and high incidence of falls. The understanding of the gait patterns in subjects with fibromyalgia and their relationship with falls may be useful when designing intervention programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the range of motion of the hip and ankle joints during gait in women with and without fibromyalgia. Further, we determined the relationship between joint range of motion and falls in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Middle-aged women (16 with fibromyalgia and 16 as control group) were recruited. Pain intensity, physical activity level, and fall prevalence were assessed. Three dimensional gait analysis provided temporal and joint kinematic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, hip and ankle range of motion were similar between groups, except that fibromyalgia group showed higher plantar flexion during toe-off (P<0.05) and reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase (P<0.05). Additionally, in the fibromyalgia group the higher number of falls was correlated to reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase. This limitation in dorsiflexion was related to longer length of time with fibromyalgia symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with fibromyalgia showed a higher number of falls, reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase, and increased plantar flexion during toe-off. Also, the higher number of falls reported in the fibromyalgia group was related to reduced dorsiflexion during stance phase, which was correlated to a longer length of time living with fibromyalgia symptoms. These data suggest that improving ankle kinematics in patients with fibromyalgia may help prevent falls and improve mobility.
authors: Physical Education Department/Center for Motor Behaviour Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: su.goes@gmail.com.
authors: Suelen M
authors: SM
authors: Góes
authors: Physical Education Department/Center of Quality of Life, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: neivaleite@gmail.com.
authors: Neiva
authors: N
authors: Leite
authors: Physical Education Department/Center for Motor Behaviour Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: joicemfstefanello@gmail.com.
authors: Joice M F
authors: JM
authors: Stefanello
authors: Physical Education Department/Center of Quality of Life, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: diogomann@hotmail.com.
authors: Diogo
authors: D
authors: Homann
authors: Kinesiology Department, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States. Electronic address: slynn@fullerton.edu.
authors: Scott K
authors: SK
authors: Lynn
authors: Physical Education Department/Center for Motor Behaviour Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: andrerodacki@gmail.com.
authors: André L F
authors: AL
authors: Rodacki
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: Chronic pain; Falls; Gait; Joint kinematic