In adults with CF, it is possible that the imbalance occurs by both distortion of the head-trunk relationship and lower extremity abnormalities as noted by the reduced quadriceps muscle strength.

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| Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary condition in which lung disease affects all patients. In addition to pulmonary involvement, the multisystemic components of CF cause significant physical limitations. However, the impact of lung function on balance control in CF has not been studied. Objective: To assess body balance in adults with CF and to test its possible associations with lung function, nutritional status, and functional capacity. Method: This was a cross-sectional study in which 14 adults with CF underwent pulmonary function testing (spirometry, body plethysmography, and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco), respiratory muscle strength, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), Berg balance scale (BBS), nutritional analysis (body mass index and bioelectrical impedance), and stabilometry. Body balance was quantified using stabilometry; all participants performed the following two trials: opened base, eyes open (OBEO); closed base, eyes closed (CBEC). Results: In stabilometry, the median for the lateral range and anterior-posterior range in the CBEC trial was 0.10 (0.08-0.11) and 0.13 (0.11-0.22), respectively (p<0.05). The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) correlated inversely with the lateral standard deviation (ρ=-0.61; p<0.05) as the DLco correlated positively with the anterior-posterior range (ρ=0.54; p<0.05). There were significant relationships between body composition indexes and almost all stabilometric variables measured. There were no relationships of the BBS and 6MWD with the stabilometric variables. Conclusions: In adults with CF, imbalance occurs mainly in the anterior-posterior direction and is especially associated with body composition.Keywords: cystic fibrosis; rehabilitation; respiratory function tests; postural balance; psychomotor performance; nutrition assessment. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLEPenafortes JTS, Guimarães FS, Ribeiro Moço VJ, Almeida VP, Menezes SLS, Lopes AJ. Relationship between body balance, lung function, nutritional status and functional capacity in adults with cystic fibrosis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2013 Sept-Oct; 17(5):450-457. http://dx

The present study shows that abnormalities in pulmonary function and functional capacity are associated with postural changes in adults with CF. However the severity of the postural abnormalities does not negatively influence the CFQ-R domains.