Objective: To compare the levels of pain, grip strength, balance and gait in older adults with and without post-Chikungunya chronic arthralgia (PCCA).
Methods: Sixty-two older adults, 30 with and 32 without PCCA participated in the study. Pain level was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Gait during a 10-m walk was assessed using inertial sensors. Semi-static balance was assessed during an eyes-closed bipedal balance test on a force platform, and grip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer.
Results: Participants with PCCA presented severe levels of pain (VAS > 7.5), poorer balance, lower grip strength, walked slower, with lower cadence and stride length and higher stride time and stride length variability than participants without PCCA (P < 0.001 for all variables).
Conclusions: Older adults with PCCA had high levels of pain, impaired balance and gait and lower grip strength compared to older adults without PCCA.
Keywords: Chikungunya virus; arthralgia; arthralgie; asthenia; asthénie; balance; démarche; force de préhension; gait; grip strength; virus du chikungunya; équilibre.
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.