Ineffective ADL skills in women with fibromyalgia: a cross-sectional study

Subgroups of women with fibromyalgia likely show different activity of daily living (ADL) skill deficits. Identifying ineffective ADL skills of significance in the 'typical' woman with fibromyalgia will promote the planning of targeted occupational therapy interventions aiming at improving ADL ability.

To identify frequently reported ADL skill deficits of significance in subgroups of women with fibromyalgia who have decreased ADL motor ability in combination with decreased or competent ADL process ability.

Women with fibromyalgia were evaluated with the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). If they demonstrated decreased ADL motor ability, the calibrated AMPS raters identified and reported ineffective ADL skills of significance. Descriptive comparisons were made between subgroups displaying either decreased or competent ADL process ability.

Moves, calibrates, bends, reaches, and paces were identified as the most frequently reported ineffective ADL skills of significance within the total sample (n = 188). The ADL process skills items organise and accommodate were identified as ineffective only in the subgroup with decreased ADL process ability (n = 105).

It is suggested that clinicians modify the individual's tasks and environments to compensate for identified ineffective ADL skills and to use the AMPS to differentiate interventions in women with fibromyalgia.