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Patients with fibromyalgia have difficulty with activities of daily living, they exhibit reduced muscle strength and high incidence of reported falls. The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional performance and lower limb muscle strength in women with fibromyalgia and determine the relationship between muscle strength and falls.

Sixteen females with fibromyalgia and 16 healthy women participated in the study. Pain intensity, fibromyalgia impact on quality of life, physical activity level and fall prevalence were assessed. The peak torque and the rate of torque development were determined in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (hip, knee and ankle joints) using a load cell. The 30s chair stand, 8ft up and go, sit and reach, and functional reach tests were used to characterize functional performance.

Women with fibromyalgia showed deficits in lower limb muscle …