The relationship between the functional status of the extremities and "core" stabilization in women with fibromyalgia

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the functional status of the extremities and "core" stabilization in women with fibromyalgia (FM).

Fifty-seven women with FM were included. The Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Visual Analogue Scale-Pain (VAS-Pain), Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), McGill Static endurance tests (trunk flexors endurance, trunk extensors endurance, lateral bridge tests), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH), grip strength, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), chair-stand test, pressure pain threshold and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were used in evaluation.

The trunk flexors endurance test showed a weak correlation with 6MWT (r = 0.392), DASH (r = -0.347), LEFS (r = 0.328) and WPI (r = -0.289). The trunk extensors endurance test showed a weak correlation with grip strength-right (r = 0.285), DASH (r = -0.301) and LEFS (r = 0.321) and a moderate correlation with grip strength-left (r = 0.407), chair-stand test (r = 0.470) and 6MWT (r = 0.524). The right lateral bridge test showed a weak correlation with grip strength-right (r = 0.271), DASH (r = -0.379), LEFS (r = 0.254), WPI (r = -0.306), average of maximal values of pressure pain threshold (r = 0.316) and average of mean values of pressure pain threshold (r = 0.337); it showed a moderate correlation with grip strength-left (r = 0.418) and 6MWT (r = 0.414). The left lateral bridge test showed a weak correlation with grip strength-right (r = 0.279), chair-stand test (r = 0.276), 6MWT (r = 0.359), DASH (r = -0.294), average of maximal values of pressure pain threshold (r = 0.315) and average of mean values of pressure pain threshold (r = 0.370); it showed a moderate correlation with grip strength-left (r = 0.502) (p < 0.05).

Core muscle endurance is associated with upper and lower extremity functional level and pain parameters in women with FM.