Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determinate whether fitness cut-off points discriminate
the severity of major fibromyalgia symptoms and health-related quality of life. Additionally,
we investigated which American Colleague of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia criteria
(1990 vs. modified 2010) better discriminate fibromyalgia symptomatology. A total
of 488 women with fibromyalgia and 200 non-fibromyalgia (control) women participated.
All participants underwent both the 1990 and the modified 2010 ACR preliminary criteria
(hereinafter 1990c and m-2010c, respectively). We used fitness cut-off points (Senior
Fitness Tests Battery plus handgrip strength test) to discriminate between presence
and absence of fibromyalgia. Additionally, we employed several instruments to assess
fibromyalgia symptoms. Fitness cut-off points discriminated between high and low levels
of the main symptoms the disease in all age groups (P from <0.001 to 0.01). Overall,
the arm-curl and the 30-s chair stand tests presented the highest effect sizes in
all symptoms, reinforcing the inclusion of fitness testing as a complementary tool
for fibromyalgia diagnosis and monitoring. Moreover, the effect size of the differences
in symptoms between women with fibromyalgia and controls were overall larger using
the m-2010c compared with the 1990c, except for the tender points count, reflecting
better the polysymptomatic distress condition of fibromyalgia.
Key words
fitness tests threshold - pain - fatigue - health-related quality of life - depression
- anxiety and diagnosis criteria