Muscle characteristics of persons with fibromyalgia syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To explore agonist and antagonist muscle characteristics, depression and physical functioning of patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS).


METHODS
Individuals with FMS (N=34) and chronic pain (N=36) were recruited from a chronic pain program. Normal controls (N=37) were recruited from the general community.


METHODS
Demographic data (age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, and employment status), self-report physical and psychological functioning, current level of pain, level of depression, and agonist and antagonist muscle activity (SCM, Biceps/triceps, Forearm flexor/extensor, Lower leg tibialis anterior/gastrocnemius) were measured with sEMG.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in upper arm muscle contra-activation between the FMS patients and normal controls but not between the non-FMS chronic pain patients and normal controls. When compared to normal controls, the FMS group reported more depression and a higher level of physical functioning problems, but it was not significantly different from the mean score for the non-FMS chronic pain group. Problems with physical functioning and depression did not predict strength of contra-activation in the upper arm muscle.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest presence of unusual muscle activity occurring in the bicep muscle of FMS and non-FMS chronic pain patients, which establishes a possible link between muscle dysfunction, mood and pain.
Jegede
Adejoke B
AB
California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Francisco, CA, USA. Ba3de@hotmail.com
Gilbert
Christopher
C
Tulkin
Steven R
SR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018710:Pain Clinics; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software