title: Examination of contraction-induced muscle pain as a behavioral correlate of physical activity in women with and without fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare muscle pain intensity during a sustained isometric contraction in women with and without fibromyalgia (FM), and examine the association between muscle pain and self-reported levels of physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen women with FM and 14 healthy women completed the study, where muscle pain ratings (MPRs) were obtained every 30 s during a 3 min isometric handgrip task at 25% maximal strength, and self-reported physical activity was quantified using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with FM were less physically active than healthy controls. During the isometric contraction, MPR progressively increased in both groups at a comparable rate, but women with FM generally reported a greater intensity of muscle pain than healthy controls. Among all women, average MPR scores were inversely associated with self-reported physical activity levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with FM exhibit augmented muscle pain during isometric contractions and reduced physical activity than healthy controls. Furthermore, contraction-induced muscle pain is inversely associated with physical activity levels. These observations suggest that augmented muscle pain may serve as a behavioral correlate of reduced physical activity in women with FM. Implications for Rehabilitation Women with fibromyalgia experience a greater intensity of localized muscle pain in a contracting muscle compared to healthy women. The intensity of pain during muscle contraction is inversely associated with the amount of physical activity in women with and without fibromyalgia. Future studies should determine whether exercise adherence can be improved by considering the relationship between contraction-induced muscle pain and participation in routine physical activity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health , Exercise, and Sport Sciences, Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX , USA .
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.forename: Lisa W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Corbin
authors.forename: Katrina S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Maluf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Chronic pain; exercise; fibromyalgia; hyperalgesia