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Evaluation of minimum pinch force while holding in fibromyalgia patients
Dilara Ekici Zincirci1, Sultan İlbeği2, Esin Çakır2
1Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Health Science University, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. drdilaraekici@gmail.com.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the minimum pinch force applied during object carrying and physical fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia. For this purpose, the study evaluated the association between the minimum and maximum pinch forces exerted while carrying a weight and both isokinetic muscle strength and the isokinetic fatigue index.
Methods:
One hundred eight (54 FMS/54 healthy) women participated. Pinch force was measured with a force sensor, and wrist flexor/extensor strength and fatigue index were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer at 180°/s.
Results:
Minimum pinch force did not differ significantly between groups, but maximum pinch force was higher in healthy subjects (p = 0.011). Wrist flexor and extensor strength were substantially lower in FMS (p < 0.001 for both). Fatigue index was lower in FMS, but differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.05, p = 0.06). In FMS patients, the minimum pinch force correlated with wrist flexor and extensor fatigue, but no correlation was found in controls.
Conclusions:
Our research shows that the minimum pinch force exerted by women with FMS is not different from that exerted by healthy women, but the maximum pinch force is lower. Muscle performance tests measured by isokinetic dynamometry may help assess physical fatigue in FMS patients.
Significance:
Although women with FMS can match their healthy peers in minimum pinch force, their lower maximum force may be the main cause of the fatigue they experience during daily activities.
