Ultrasonographic evaluation of muscle thickness in female patients with fibromyalgia and its relationship with clinical parameters

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the ultrasonographic thickness of selected major muscles of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and asymptomatic control subjects and to evaluate the relationship between muscle thickness and muscle strength, physical performance, kinesiophobia, and clinical variables. METHODS Twenty-two FMS patients and 18 asymptomatic control cases who applied to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic were included. The thickness of the gastrocnemius medialis/lateralis, trapezius, and upper arm muscle was evaluated with ultrasonography. Muscle strength was evaluated with hand grip strength, muscle performance with chair stand test (CST), walking performance with 10 m walking test, disease severity with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised, pain severity with VAS, and kinesiophobia with TAMPA kinesiophobia scale. RESULTS The mean thickness values of all the muscles measured were significantly decreased in the FMS group compared with the control (p<0.05). There were positive correlations between gastrocnemius medialis/lateralis and upper arm muscle thickness with hand grip strength (p<0.01, r=0.602, r=0.663, r=0.567, respectively) and positive correlations between gastrocnemius medialis/lateralis muscle thickness with CST (p<0.05, r=0.507, r=0.512, respectively). TAMPA was significantly negatively correlated with gastrocnemius medialis/lateralis and upper arm muscle thickness. CONCLUSION Muscle thickness, strength, and performance decrease in FMS patients. This reduction in muscle strength, performance, and size is associated with kinesiophobia. Strengthening exercises should be included in the management of FMS patients. However, caution should be exercised when prescribing exercises that require extreme muscle performance, considering that it may cause kinesiophobia.

Cartilage evaluation by ultrasonography in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a scoping review

“…Only one study has evaluated the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint [ 31 ]. Regarding large joints, ten studies (34%) assessed the knee joint [ 12 – 14 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 37 ]. Other studies included one each for the shoulder [ 22 ], foot [ 37 ], and hip joints [ 15 ], respectively.…”

“…Table 3 lists the US evaluation methods used in the studies. US evaluation of the cartilage included 15 studies that measured cartilage thickness [ 3 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 28 , 29 , 32 – 37 ], 10 that assessed it binarily [ 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 27 , 36 ], and 15 that assessed it semi-quantitatively [ 10 – 13 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 30 , 31 , 34 – 36 ]. Ten studies assessed two cartilage evaluation methods [ 11 – 13 , 18 , 23 , 27 , 28 , 34 – 36 ], and three examined the relationship between them [ 34 – 36 ].…”

“…Nine studies assessed knee thickness [ 12 , 13 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 37 ], and six assessed the fingers (two for the MCP joints [ 35 , 36 ], three for the MCP and PIP joints [ 3 , 29 , 34 ], and one for MCP-only assessment in healthy participants [ 18 ]). Four studies included cartilage measurements from the bone surface to the white band of the chondrosynovial interface for thickness measurements [ 3 , 34 – 36 ], one study excluded the white band and measured only the low-echo portion [ 37 ], and the other ten studies had no clear description of the thickness.…”

“…Sound velocity correction was performed in only two cases [ 3 , 19 ]. Two of the nine studies that measured knee cartilage thickness measured at two locations (medial and lateral) [ 21 , 23 ], whereas the others are measured at the medial, central, and lateral sites [ 12 , 13 , 19 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 37 ].…”

“…Fourteen studies examined the associations between clinical and demographic data [ 3 , 11 , 15 , 16 , 21 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 32 – 34 , 36 , 37 ] (Table 5 ). The main factors examined were age, sex, disease duration, and disease activity.…”