Evaluation of ICF-based participation, cervical disability and headache according to cervical lordosis angle in fibromyalgia patients

Objective: The main purpose of this study is to examine and compare the relationship between the change in cervical lordosis angle and disease severity, cervical disability, headache, quality of life and social participation in patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). Materials and Methods: This study included two groups: 49 patients with FMS and decreased cervical lordosis with a mean age of 52.61 ± 8.23 years, and 40 patients with FMS and normal cervical lordosis with a mean age of 50.28 ± 9.96 years. Participants were administered a demographic information form to assess demographic characteristics, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) to assess disease function and symptoms, the Neck Disability Questionnaire (NDQ) to assess cervical region involvement, the Headache Impact Questionnaire (HIT-6) to assess headache, and the WHODAS 2.0 scale to assess quality of life and functionality. Cobb angle measurements were performed to assess cervical lordosis angle. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Neck Disability Index, Headache Impact Test, WHODAS 2.0, and the subdomains of WHODAS related to Movement, Self-Care, Housework, and Social Participation (p <0.05). Conclusion: In patients with FMS, a reduction or loss of cervical lordosis angle increases the severity of FMS, headache complaints, and the rate of cervical disability, while impairing functionality and leading to social isolation, thereby negatively affecting quality of life. However, these structural changes in the cervical region do not appear to have a significant impact on psychosocial functions such as interpersonal relationships, comprehension, and communication. Keywords: Fibromyalgia, Cervical Lordosis, ICF-Participation, Headache, Radiography