Changes in the mechanical properties and pressure pain thresholds of muscles in patients with fibromyalgia and their relationship with clinical parameters: a case-control study

Description

Esen, Taş, and Eroğlu measure the muscles of people with fibromyalgia with instruments rather than questionnaires, testing whether the widespread pain condition leaves a physical signature in tissue. Thirty-one patients, nearly all women, and 31 matched healthy controls had three muscles probed: a neck-shoulder muscle, a forearm muscle, and a calf muscle. A handheld myotonometer tapped each muscle to read its tone, stiffness, and elasticity, while a pressure gauge found how much force triggered pain.

Patient muscles ran tenser and stiffer than controls' at all three sites, with the strongest effects in the shoulder muscle, while elasticity showed no difference between groups in the 2026 results. Pressure pain thresholds were significantly lower in patients, confirming their hallmark tenderness with an objective dial. They conclude fibromyalgia involves measurable passive muscle change, and suggest relaxation-targeted therapy deserves testing alongside pain control.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13541808