Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the reliability and feasibility of physical
fitness tests in female fibromyalgia patients. 100 female fibromyalgia patients (aged
50.6±8.6 years) performed the following tests twice (7 days interval test–retest):
chair sit and reach, back scratch, handgrip strength, arm curl, chair stand, 8 feet
up and go, and 6-min walk. Significant differences between test and retest were found
in the arm curl (mean difference: 1.25±2.16 repetitions, Cohen d=0.251), chair stand (0.99±1.7 repetitions, Cohen d=0.254) and 8 feet up and go (−0.38±1.09 s, Cohen d=0.111) tests. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) range from 0.92 in the arm
curl test to 0.96 in the back scratch test. The feasibility of the tests (patients
able to complete the test) ranged from 89% in the arm curl test to 100% in the handgrip
strength test. Therefore, the reliability and feasibility of the physical fitness
tests examined is acceptable for female fibromyalgia patients.
Key words
pain - muscle strength - flexibility - aerobic capacity - assessment