Table 3.

Key aspects mentioned by the four groups about the impact of FM limitations on the patient's life.

What is the impact of FM limitations on the patient's daily life?
Early-stage patients	Late-stage patients
• A higher difficulty to perform some tasks but mainly a slower rhythm • Friends and distant family are unaware • Close family refers a slowdown, difficulties in tasks like buttoning • Exercise, cognitive training are efficacious strategies to deal with FM limitations	• Clear perception of FM limitations associated with the disease • The most limiting factor of activities of daily living • The “OFF” periods are the worst moments of the day • Look for strategies to minimize the symptoms of the disease • Feel ashamed for drawing others' attention
Physiotherapists	Neurologists
• First limitations: stand up from a chair, get out of the bed or from the car • Associated with the stage of the disease • Initial devaluation, followed by sadness and frustration • In physiotherapy sessions patients learn how to deal with the limitations. Some patients find their own strategies.	• Vary from patient to patient, according lifestyle and tolerance with himself • Patients develop their strategies to overcome limitations until the moment they stop working • Sometimes the perspective of the impact of limitations and treatment goals between a patient and a neurologist does not coincide. The perspective between patient and caregiver is also different.