Impaired muscle strength may contribute to fatigue in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

This study included 33 patients, 6 months after a-SAH, and 33 sex-matched and age-matched healthy controls. Isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensors and flexors was measured at 60 and 180°/s. Maximal voluntary muscle strength was defined as peak torque and measured in Newton-meter. Fatigue was examined using the Fatigue Severity Scale. In patients with a-SAH, the maximal knee extension was 22% (60°/s) and 25% (180°/s) lower and maximal knee flexion was 33% (60°/s) and 36% (180°/s) lower compared with that of matched controls (P≤0.001). The Fatigue Severity Scale score was related to maximal knee extension (60°/s: r=−0.426, P=0.015; 180°/s: r=−0.376, P=0.034) and flexion (60°/s: r=−0.482, P=0.005; 180°/s: r=−0.344, P=0.083). The knee muscle strength was 28–47% lower in fatigued (n=13) and 11–32% lower in nonfatigued (n=20) patients; deficits were larger in fatigued patients (P
Source: International Journal of Rehabilitation Research - Category: Rehabilitation Tags: Original articles Source Type: research