[Change in muscle strength in patients with anorexia nervosa during inpatient treatment--a pilot study]

Changes in muscular strength during treatment of inpatients suffering from anorexia nervosa were to be documented by exact measurement.

The maximum strength of each side of the body was measured in 10 patients in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th weeks of inpatient treatment by means of a series of four different exercises. A well-established measurement technique, including the computer program "Quantitative Muscle Assessment", was used. All patients showed comparable symptoms of an anorexia nervosa, restricting type before admission (pure food restriction without over-exercising).

A polyphase course of the restitution of muscular strength could be seen in all patients. Since it is easily applied, the exercise "handigrip" has been used frequently elsewhere. In our study it failed to show a consistent development, in contrast to other muscle groups studied. Differences between the left and right sides could not be observed.

Patients with anorexia nervosa showed an objectively comparable inter-individual polyphase increase in the maximum strength of the muscles under investigation during weight restitution.