Introduction: The lower limb muscle strength reduction in women with Systemic Lupus Erithematosus (SLE) may be related to deficit in balance control and to an increased risk of falls and their adverse effects. Thus, once identifying the relationship between lower limb muscle weakness and balance deficit, it is possible to guide the treatment improving the muscle strength and reducing risk of falls, in addition enhancing functional capacity and physical activity. The hypothesis of this study is that the reduction of lower limb muscle strength will be directly related to the déficit of balance control in women with SLE. Objectives: verify the relationship between lower limb muscle strength and balance control in women with SLE. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 30 women, over 18 years old and be inhabitant of Macapá and Santana cities were evaluated. Twenty-six volunteers composed the group with the diagnosis of SLE and four volunteers without SLE formed the control group. Anthropometric data such as age, weight, height, body mass index and education were assessed. Balance control was evaluated by the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and the muscle strength was assessed by the five times sit and stand test (TSL5x). Results: in the BESTest, the SLE group presented significantly lower values than the control group in sub-items III, IV, VI and total. In TSL5x, the SLE group had significantly shorter performance time compared to the control. And in the left-hand grip test, the SLE group also had significantly lower values than the control group. The TSL5x showed a moderate and significant correlation with BESTest for subitems II and III, and in the handgrip test, only BESTest subitem V correlated with the right-hand grip strength. Conclusion: there is a reduction in lower limb muscle strength in women with SLE, and this reduction predisposes changes in postural control, mainly related to stability limits, anticipatory postural adjustments, reactive postural responses and gait stability
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