Grip Force in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia and in Healthy Subjects. A Study with the Grippit Instrument

Objective. To examine the effects of intraarticular induction of interleukin-1␤ (IL-1␤) expression in adult mice.Methods. We used somatic mosaic analysis in a novel transgenic mouse with an inducible IL-1␤ transcription unit. Transgene activation was induced by Cre recombinase in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of adult transgenic mice (conditional knockin model). The effects of intraarticular IL-1␤ induction were subsequently evaluated at the cellular, histopathologic, and behavioral levels. Osteoarthritis (OA) manifests as a slowly progressing debilitating disease that affects one or more joints of the body. Clinical symptoms include pain, dysfunction, and swelling and enlargement of the joints. The primary pathologic features of OA are fibrillation and loss of articular cartilage, accompanied by remodeling of subchondral bone. OA seems to be a node of convergence for a number of potentially independent pathologic processes that, ultimately, can lead to joint dysfunction and pain (1). Although the role of inflammation in OA has been long debated (2), recent evidence now confirms proinflammatory cytokines as mediators in this disease (3). For example, the catabolism of OA cartilage is thought to involve the action of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1)

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraarticular induction of interleukin‐1β expression in the adult mouse, with resultant temporomandibular joint pathologic changes, dysfunction, and pain

Lai

Shaftel

Miller

et al. 2006

“…The Borg CR-10 scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (very severe pain) (37). Grip strength was evaluated using the Grippit, which is an electronic force instrument measuring both maximum force and mean force in newtons over a 10-second period (38).…”

Section: Assessments Of Impairmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of intensive resistance training in patients with chronic polymyositis or dermatomyositis

Alexanderson¹,

Dastmalchi²,

Esbjörnsson-Liljedahl³

et al. 2007

128

115

Objective. To investigate the benefits and safety of an intensive muscular training program in patients with chronic polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM).Methods. Nine patients with chronic PM or DM (median age 53 years, range 44 -61) were included. Assessments of impairment (10 -15 voluntary repetition maximum [VRM], the Functional Index 2 [FI-2], the Grippit, and pain rated on the Borg CR-10 scale), activity limitation (Myositis Activities Profile), and participation restriction (patients' disease impact on well-being) were performed 4 weeks prior to baseline, at baseline, and after 7 weeks of exercise. A 6-item core set of disease activity measures was administered and muscle biopsy samples of vastus lateralis were obtained at baseline and after 7 weeks of exercise. Response criteria at an individual level were set for disability and disease activity. The patients exercised 3 days per week for 7 weeks on loads allowing 10 VRM. Results. On a group level there were no significant differences between assessments at 4 weeks before baseline compared with baseline. The group improved significantly regarding 10 -15 VRM and FI-2 at 7 weeks compared with baseline (P < 0.05). All patients were responders with respect to impairment and 2 were activity limitation responders whereas participation restriction remained unchanged in all. Two patients were responders with reduced disease activity and no patient had signs of increased muscle inflammation in the muscle biopsy sample after 7 weeks of exercise. Conclusion. Patients with chronic, stable PM and DM can perform this intensive resistive exercise program with beneficial effects on impairment and activity limitation without increased muscle inflammation.

“…Of the 59 patients who dropped out and did not complete the EDAQ, 37 were women (median age 50 years, IQR 27 at inclusion) and 22 were men (median age 59 years, IQR 23 at inclusion). Age, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), DAS28 (28), grip force (21), and HAQ score (29) did not differ between the study group and the dropouts, whereas the dropouts reported significantly more general pain on a 0 -100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) (P ϭ 0.023) and more tender joints (P ϭ 0.04).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Maximum, momentary, and average grip force (N) over a period of 10 seconds were measured in the right and the left hand separately using a digital electronic device (Grippit; Detektor AB, Gö teborg, Sweden) (21). In this study, the average grip force of 10 seconds in the right hand was used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis correlates with reduced grip force regardless of sex: The Swedish TIRA project

Thyberg¹,

Hass²,

Nordenskiöld³

et al. 2005

Objective. To evaluate activity limitations 3 years after diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to grip force and sex. Methods. A total of 217 patients, 153 women and 64 men, with recent-onset RA were included. Activity limitations were reported using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Evaluation of Daily Activities Questionnaire (EDAQ). The relationships between activity limitations versus grip force (measured by the Grippit), walking speed, functional impairment, grip ability, pain, plasma C-reactive protein, the 28-joint disease activity score and its components, the physician's global assessment of disease activity, and sex were analyzed by partial least squares (PLS). Results. Women had significantly lower grip force and more activity limitations (HAQ and EDAQ) than men. The PLS analyses demonstrated that grip force was the strongest regressor of activity limitation, closely followed by walking speed. However, within subgroups based on grip force (group 1 ‫؍‬ grip force <114 N, group 2 ‫؍‬ 116 -206 N, group 3 ‫؍‬ 214 -321 N, group 4 ‫؍‬ grip force >328 N) and including sexes, women and men had corresponding degrees of activity limitation as reported by the HAQ and EDAQ. Conclusion. Our results indicate that the more pronounced activity limitations seen in women with RA, as compared with men, may be explained by lower grip force rather than sex.