Is chest expansion a determinant of pulmonary muscle strength in primary fibromyalgia?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possible relationship between chest expansion and pulmonary muscle strength in patients with primary fibromyalgia (PFM).


METHODS
Forty-one consecutive women with PFM were compared with age and body mass index matched 40 healthy women concerning pulmonary function tests, chest expansion, and maximum respiratory pressures indicating pulmonary muscle strength, and endurance (MVV). Pain was scored according to a visual analog scale (VAS). Chest pain was scored on a 10 point scale.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding chest expansion (P > 0.05). Maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP, MEP) were lower in fibromyalgia patients than controls (P < 0.05). However, chest expansion and dyspnea score were insignificant between groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced maximum respiratory pressures (MIP, MEP) may result from isometric type pulmonary muscle dysfunction as a result of low physical performance in fibromyalgia patients, despite insignificant finding of chest expansion and dyspnea score according to controls.
Sahin
Günşah
G
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. gunsahsahin@hotmail.com
Ulubaş
Bahar
B
Calikoğlu
Mukadder
M
Bolgen Cime
Ozlen
O
Erdoğan
Canan
C
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity