Comparation of functional capacity and physical fitness levels of women with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome

Comparation of Functional Capacity and Physical Fitness Levels of Women withFibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain SyndromesNeslihan ALKANFibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes are the most common causes ofmusculoskeletal pain. It was shown that; when compared to healthy subjects, functionalcapacity and daily activity levels decreased in patients with fibromyalgia and myofascial painsyndromes. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare functional capacity andphysical fitness levels in women with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes. Our studyhas been carried out in Başkent University Medical School, Department of Physical Medicineand Rehabilitation outpatient clinics, on 30 myofascial pain , 30 fibromyalgia syndrome and30 healthy women. We performed symptom-limited maximal exercise test using Bruceprotocol. The samples' pain severity was assessed by visual analog scale. Measurement ofbody composition, muscle strenght, endurance, flexibility and balance were done forevaluation of health related physical fitness. Pain severity of women with fibromyalgiasyndrome was significantly higher than women with myofasial pain syndrome (p<0.05).When we evaluated exercise testing parameters; there were significant differences inmaximal heart rate, percentage of maximal heart rate, total exercise duration, exercisedouble product values, maximal sistolic blood pressure and rate percived exertion levelsbetween three grups (p<0.05). The women with fibromyalgia syndrome had the highest rateperceived exertion levels although lowest scores related to the other measurements(p<0.05). There were significant differences in health related physical fitness in testing sit-reach, shoulder flexion, vertical jump, push-up, sit-up, bent leg sit-up and squat down tests;hand grip strenght and static-dinamic balance scores between theree grups (p<0.05). Thewomen with fibromyalgia syndrome had the lowest scores of all the physical fitnessparametres. As a result, when compared to healthy subjects, functional capacity and physicalfitness levels were decreased in women with fibromyalgia and myofasial pain syndromes.The decline of functional capacity and physical fitness levels were more prominent in womenwith fibromyalgia than women with myofasial pain syndrome.Key Words: Myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, exercise testing, physicalfitness