Muscle performance in patients with fibromyalgia

Okumus M, Gokoglu F, Kocaoglu S, Ceceli E, Yorgancioglu ZR
Correspondence: Dr Muyesser Okumus S. Veli Kara Sok., drmuyesser@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Introduction Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a syndrome expressed by chronic widespread body pain which leads to reduced physical function and frequent use of healthcare services. This study was performed to examine the muscle performance comprising abdominal and lumbar muscle strength, and measurement of chest expansion in osteoporotic patients with FMS; to evaluate the relation between muscle performance, pain severity, clinical findings and physical activity; and to compare the results with the osteoporotic control group.
Methods 44 osteoporotic women with FMS and 46 osteoporotic women who were physically inactive underwent measurements of three parameters: abdominal and lumbar muscle strength, and chest expansion. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis.
Results The strength of lumbar muscles and measurement of chest expansion were significantly decreased in the FMS patients as compared to the controls (p-value is less than 0.001). However, lumbar and abdominal muscles strength was low in both patients and controls.
Conclusion Our results indicate that osteoporotic patients with FMS have impairment in strength of lumbar and abdominal muscles and in measurement of chest expansion. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanism of reduced muscle performance and the effects of aerobic exercise in this patient group.

Keywords: chest expansion, fibromyalgia, muscle performance, osteoporosis
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(9): 752-756