Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes

Abstract This study leveraged machine learning (ML) models to explore the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) spinal alignment parameters and clinical outcomes in patients suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A cohort of 303 FMS patients, diagnosed according to the 2016 American Colle...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ibrahim M. Moustafa, Iman Akef Khowailed, Shima A. Mohammad Zadeh, Dilber Uzun Ozsahin, Mubarak Taiwo Mustapha, Paul A. Oakley, Deed E. Harrison
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05390-6
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849335200402636800
author Ibrahim M. Moustafa
Iman Akef Khowailed
Shima A. Mohammad Zadeh
Dilber Uzun Ozsahin
Mubarak Taiwo Mustapha
Paul A. Oakley
Deed E. Harrison
author_facet Ibrahim M. Moustafa
Iman Akef Khowailed
Shima A. Mohammad Zadeh
Dilber Uzun Ozsahin
Mubarak Taiwo Mustapha
Paul A. Oakley
Deed E. Harrison
author_sort Ibrahim M. Moustafa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study leveraged machine learning (ML) models to explore the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) spinal alignment parameters and clinical outcomes in patients suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A cohort of 303 FMS patients, diagnosed according to the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria, underwent comprehensive assessments of sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, vertebral rotation, pelvic obliquity, pelvic torsion, and pelvic rotation using a validated 3D imaging system. Clinical outcomes, included the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and algometric pain scores. Five ML models were employed: Fast Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks with Bee Colony Optimization (FastKAN-BCO), FastKAN with LBFGS, Multilayer Perceptron with LBFGS (MLP-LBFGS), Multilayer Perceptron with ADAM (MLP-ADAM), and linear regression. Among the models tested, FastKAN-BCO demonstrated the highest R-squared value (0.95) for algometric pain, while the MLP-LBFGS model achieved superior performance for PCS (R2 = 0.94), FIQ (R2 = 0.88), and PSQI (R2 = 0.97) predictions. Sagittal imbalance and pelvic obliquity were identified as key predictors of symptom severity. Stratification revealed that individuals with more pronounced pelvic asymmetry and vertebral rotation exceeding 10° experienced increased symptom intensity. The contribution of vertebral rotation was nonlinear, indicating a threshold-dependent impact. This study illustrates the potential of ML techniques to uncover complex associations between 3D spinal alignment and FMS outcomes, offering a foundation for personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The results emphasize the critical role of postural dysfunction in FMS and highlight the potential of advanced ML models.
format Article
id doaj-art-441275639b6b4e7e86887d8d28d418bb
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-441275639b6b4e7e86887d8d28d418bb2025-08-20T03:45:20ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-05390-6Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomesIbrahim M. Moustafa0Iman Akef Khowailed1Shima A. Mohammad Zadeh2Dilber Uzun Ozsahin3Mubarak Taiwo Mustapha4Paul A. Oakley5Deed E. Harrison6Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of SharjahDepartment of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of SharjahDepartment of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of SharjahDepartment of Medical Diagnostic Imaging, College of Health Science, University of SharjahOperational Research Centre in Healthcare, Near East UniversityPrivate PracticeCBP Nonprofit (a Spine Research Foundation)Abstract This study leveraged machine learning (ML) models to explore the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) spinal alignment parameters and clinical outcomes in patients suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A cohort of 303 FMS patients, diagnosed according to the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria, underwent comprehensive assessments of sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, vertebral rotation, pelvic obliquity, pelvic torsion, and pelvic rotation using a validated 3D imaging system. Clinical outcomes, included the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and algometric pain scores. Five ML models were employed: Fast Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks with Bee Colony Optimization (FastKAN-BCO), FastKAN with LBFGS, Multilayer Perceptron with LBFGS (MLP-LBFGS), Multilayer Perceptron with ADAM (MLP-ADAM), and linear regression. Among the models tested, FastKAN-BCO demonstrated the highest R-squared value (0.95) for algometric pain, while the MLP-LBFGS model achieved superior performance for PCS (R2 = 0.94), FIQ (R2 = 0.88), and PSQI (R2 = 0.97) predictions. Sagittal imbalance and pelvic obliquity were identified as key predictors of symptom severity. Stratification revealed that individuals with more pronounced pelvic asymmetry and vertebral rotation exceeding 10° experienced increased symptom intensity. The contribution of vertebral rotation was nonlinear, indicating a threshold-dependent impact. This study illustrates the potential of ML techniques to uncover complex associations between 3D spinal alignment and FMS outcomes, offering a foundation for personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The results emphasize the critical role of postural dysfunction in FMS and highlight the potential of advanced ML models.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05390-6FibromyalgiaMachine learningPosture3D spinal alignmentPredictive modelling
spellingShingle Ibrahim M. Moustafa
Iman Akef Khowailed
Shima A. Mohammad Zadeh
Dilber Uzun Ozsahin
Mubarak Taiwo Mustapha
Paul A. Oakley
Deed E. Harrison
Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
Scientific Reports
Fibromyalgia
Machine learning
Posture
3D spinal alignment
Predictive modelling
title Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
title_full Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
title_fullStr Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
title_short Advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3D spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
title_sort advanced machine learning applications in fibromyalgia to assess the relationship between 3d spinal alignment with clinical outcomes
topic Fibromyalgia
Machine learning
Posture
3D spinal alignment
Predictive modelling
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05390-6
work_keys_str_mv AT ibrahimmmoustafa advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes
AT imanakefkhowailed advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes
AT shimaamohammadzadeh advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes
AT dilberuzunozsahin advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes
AT mubaraktaiwomustapha advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes
AT paulaoakley advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes
AT deedeharrison advancedmachinelearningapplicationsinfibromyalgiatoassesstherelationshipbetween3dspinalalignmentwithclinicaloutcomes