Assessing posture in the individual with fibromyalgia, what's the value?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2017

Publication Title

Pain and Rehabilitation - The Journal of Physiotherapy Pain Association

Volume

2017

Issue

42

First page number:

15

Last page number:

23

Abstract

Objectives: Purpose was to assess physiotherapists' value of using postural assessment of individuals with fibromyalgia. Secondary analysis on correlation of posture assessment by physiotherapists. Design: A non-experimental, retrospective, observational survey analysis of relationship of posture with individuals having fibromyalgia and healthy controls by practising physiotherapists. Setting: Weekend spinal manual therapy continuing education courses. Participants: A survey was conducted with 173 outpatient practising physiotherapists on the use and importance of posture assessment. Interventions: The study looked at validity of a postural exam using a lateral standing postural photographs of five individuals with fibromyalgia and five healthy controls between therapists. Main outcome measures: Correlation on ratings of posture. Results: The ability to correctly identify patients with fibromyalgia was 58.9% based on postural analysis. No significant correlation between years of practice (r=-.031) or specialization (r=.091) was found in ability to correctly classify individuals. There were no significant correlations between the rating on the importance of posture (r=.056) and correlation of pain and posture (r=.041). Therapists felt that addressing posture was important, mean of 7.8 on 0-10 Likert scale with 10 being very important. Conclusion: Practising physiotherapists in this study still highly value the use of postural assessment in their evaluative process for individuals with fibromyalgia. This study concurred with other studies that there currently is little to no agreement between therapists on "good" posture and linking to patients with pain.

Language

eng


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