Spatio-temporal gait disorder and gait fatigue index in a six-minute walk test in women with fibromyalgia

•Fibromyalgia patients walked at a lower velocity and covered a smaller distance during the six-minute walk test.•Fibromyalgia patients showed poor spatio-temporal gait parameters in the six-minute walk test.•Gait fatigue index in the fibromyalgia group showed a lower capacity for recovery in the last stage of the six-minute walk test.•Gait analysis during the six-minute walk test can complement the results obtained on the test.•Gait analysis during the six-minute walk test can be a good tool to assess the effects of fibromyalgia on gait disturbance.

BackgroundGait disorders in fibromyalgia patients affect several gait parameters and different muscle recruitment patterns. The aim of this study was to assess the gait differences observed during a six-minute walk test between fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls.MethodsForty-eight women with fibromyalgia and 15 healthy women were evaluated. Fibromyalgia patients met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia selected of an ambulatory care. Both patients and controls had a negative history of musculoskeletal disease, neurological disorders, and gait abnormalities. The 15 controls were healthy women matched to the patients in age, height and body weight. Spatio-temporal gait variables and the rate of perceived exertion during the six-minute walk test (all subjects) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (fibromyalgia subjects) were evaluated. All walking sets on the GaitRITE were collected and the gait variables were selected at three stages during the six-minute walk test: two sets at the beginning, two sets at 3 min and two sets at the end of the test. In addition, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was used for the fibromyalgia patients.FindingsFibromyalgia patients showed a significant decrease in all spatio-temporal gait variables at each of the three stages and had a lower walk distance covered in the six-minute walk test and higher rate of perceived exertion. No correlations were found between the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and gait variables. The fibromyalgia and control subjects showed lower gait fatigue indices between the middle and last stages.InterpretationGait analysis during a six-minute walk test is a good tool to assess the fatigue and physical symptoms of patients with fibromyalgia.