Investigation of lower extremity performance, balance and fatigue in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus: Comparative study

The aim of this study was to evaluate lower extremity performance, balance and fatigue in individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and compare them with healthy controls. The study included 21 individuals with SLE with a mean age of 38.33±13.37 years and 20 healthy individuals with a mean age of 38.95±12.62 years. After demographic data were recorded, lower extremity performance was evaluated by using the Sit to Stand Test and Timed Up and Go Test, balance was evaluated by using the Sensamove Miniboard and fatigue levels were examined with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Fatigue Severity Scale, while pain severity was examined with using the Visual Analog Scale. As a result when comparing the groups, significant differences were found in sit-to-stand test (p:0.001), timed up and go test (p:0.001); static balance-center (p:0.020), front (p:0.001), back (p:0.002), left (p:0.001), right (p:0.001); proprioception-left (p:0.004), reaction time-front (p:0.002), and left (p:0.016); travel time-front (p:0.001), back (p:0.001), left (p:0.001), and right (p:0.001); VAS-fatigue (p:0.001), Fatigue Severity Scale (p:0.001); VAS-pain (p:0.001) in favor of the healthy group. In correlation analyses of individuals with SLE, There was a low relation between timed up and go test and reaction time in the back direction (r:-0.449; p:0.041). There was a low relation between VAS-fatigue and proprioception-left (r:0.484; p:0.026), and proprioception-right (r:0.461; p:0.035). There was a moderate correlation between VAS-pain and proprioception-back (r:0.521; p:0.015), and a low correlation between proprioception-right and VAS-pain (r:0.441; p:0.045). As a result of our study, individuals with SLE have higher levels of pain and fatigue; It was observed that lower extremity performance and static/dynamic balance were worse than healthy controls. Dynamic balance is associated with fatigue, pain, and lower extremity performance. Keywords: Pain; Balance; Fatigue; Lower Extremity Performance; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus