Exploring the Interaction Between Proprioceptive Sensitivity in the Hip, Knee, and Ankle Joints, Alongside Stability Limits Evaluated Through Computerized Posturography, in Elderly Individuals Afflicted with Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Objectives: This study investigates proprioceptive sensitivity and stability limits in patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) compared to healthy controls, focusing on joint reposition sense (JRS) and limits of stability (LOS). By delineating differences between the groups, it aims to uncover the proprioceptive deficits that contribute to balance impairments in FM sufferers. Additionally, the study explores correlations between JRS and LOS within the FM group, potentially informing targeted therapeutic strategies to enhance patient outcomes.

Methods: Fifty-four individuals with FM and 54 healthy controls participated in this research. Using precise digital inclinometers, JRS was evaluated at the hip, knee, and ankle joints. LOS was assessed using dynamic posturography with advanced iso-free technology. Various parameters were measured, including reaction time, maximum excursion, and directional control.

Results: Individuals with FM exhibited significant differences in JRS and LOS compared to healthy controls. For JRS errors in the hip, knee, and ankle joints (mean ± SD), the FM group showed 3.2° ± 0.6°, 2.9° ± 0.5°, and 3.5° ± 0.7°, respectively, while the control group exhibited 1.1° ± 0.4°, 1.0° ± 0.3°, and 1.2° ± 0.4°, respectively. In LOS, FM individuals had a reaction time of 1.8 ± 0.3 seconds, maximum excursion of 54.6% ± 6.2%, and directional control of 65.2% ± 5.8%, while healthy controls showed 0.9 ± 0.2 seconds, 72.4% ± 7.1%, and 77.8% ± 6.9%, respectively.

Conclusions: Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between JRS parameters and LOS outcomes within the FMS group, indicating that better proprioception was linked to improved postural stability. These findings have clinical implications for assessing and managing balance impairments in individuals with FMS, potentially contributing to the development of targeted interventions to improve their quality of life.