Handgrip strength in men with fibromyalgia

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Neurology
• Physical Medicine

Background:

• Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties.
• Muscular strength, particularly handgrip strength (HGs), has been an area of interest in understanding FM pathophysiology.
• Limited research has focused on the specific relationship between HGs and FM in male populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGs) and the presence of fibromyalgia (FM) in men.
• To determine the correlation of HGs with the severity of FM symptoms in male patients.
• To explore HGs as a potential biomarker for FM assessment in men.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 20 men with FM and 60 healthy male controls.
• Handgrip strength (HGs) measured using a maximal isometric test with a dynamometer.
• Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) administered to assess FM severity, with patients categorized as moderate (FIQ <70) or severe (FIQ ≥70).

Main Results:

• Men with FM exhibited approximately 17% lower HGs compared to healthy controls (p=0.005).
• Severe FM patients showed ~27% lower HGs than moderate FM patients (p=0.03).
• Each 1 kg increase in HGs was associated with an 8% reduced risk of FM (OR=0.92) and a 13% reduced risk of severe FM (OR=0.87). HGs correlated negatively with pain, fatigue, stiffness, and total FIQ scores.

Conclusions:

• Handgrip strength is demonstrably reduced in male fibromyalgia patients.
• Lower HGs is inversely associated with increased FM severity and symptomatology.
• HGs testing presents a potential complementary tool for assessing and monitoring FM in men, warranting further investigation.