The hand grip force test as a measure of physical function in women with fibromyalgia

Abstract

Previous studies have reported the presence of muscle weakness in women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) which is considered a risk factor for developing earlier disability and dependence during activities of daily life (ADL). We aimed to assess the relationship between hand grip force with sociodemographic, clinical, disease‐specific, cognitive, and physical function variables in women with FMS. One hundred twenty‐six women with FMS completed demographic (age, gender, height, weight, body mass index), pain‐related (pain history, pain intensity at rest and during ADL), disease‐ specific severity (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ‐FIQ‐S‐, Fibromyalgia Health Assessment Questionnaire ‐FHAQ‐, EuroQol‐5D, Pain Catastrophizing Scale ‐PCS‐, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index‐ PSQI‐, Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire ‐PVAQ‐, and Central Sensitization Inventory ‐CSI‐ ), psychological (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, TKS‐11; Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire, PVAQ; Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS), and physical function (hand grip force, and Timed Up and Go Test, TUG). Hand grip force was associated with height (r = −0.273), BMI (r = 0.265), worst pain at rest (r = −0.228), pain during ADL (r = −0.244), TUG (r = −0.406), FHAQ (r = −0.386), EuroQol‐5D (r = 0.353), CSI (r = −0.321) and PSQI (r = −0.250). The stepwise regression analysis revealed that 34.4% of hand grip force was explained by weight (6.4%), TUG (22.2%), and FHAQ (5.8%) variables. This study found that hand grip force is associated with physical function indicators, but not with fear‐avoidance behaviors nor pain‐related features of FMS. Hand grip force could be considered as an easy tool for identifying the risk of fall and poorer physical health status.