title: Effects of hyperthyroidism on hand grip strength and function.
abstract: Hyperthyroidism is a pathologic condition in which the body is exposed to excessive amounts of circulating thyroid hormones. Skeletal muscle is one of the major target organs of thyroid hormones. We evaluated hand grip strength and function in patients with overt hyperthyroidism. Fifty-one patients newly diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and 44 healthy controls participated in this study. Age, height, weight, and dominant hand of all participants were recorded. The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism was confirmed by clinical examination and laboratory tests. Hand grip strength was tested at the dominant hand with a Jamar hand dynamometer. The grooved pegboard test (PGT) was used to evaluate hand dexterity. The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) was used to assess hand function. No significant differences were found in terms of clinical and demographic findings between the patients with hyperthyroidism and healthy controls (p > 0.05). Significant differences were found between the patients with hyperthyroidism and healthy controls regarding PGT and DHI scores (p < 0.05). Hyperthyroidism seemed to affect hand dexterity and function more than hand grip strength and seemed to be associated with reduced physical function more than muscle strength. This may also indicate that patients with hyperthyroidism should be evaluated by multidisplinary modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey;
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erkol İnal
authors.forename: Alparslan Bayram
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Çarlı
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Çanak
authors.forename: Oğuzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.forename: Banu Kale
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Köroğlu
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savaş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills
keywords: Duruöz Hand Index; dominant hand; dynamometer; grooved pegboard test; hand dexterity; hand function; hand grip strength; hand rehabilitation; hyperthyroidism; thyroid