Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2013
Association of fibromyalgia with altered skeletal muscle characteristics which may contribute to postexertional fatigue in postmenopausal women.
To identify muscle physiologic properties that may contribute to postexertional fatigue and malaise in women with fibromyalgia (FM). ⋯ Peripheral mechanisms, i.e., altered muscle fiber size distribution and decreased capillary density, may contribute to postexertional fatigue in FM. Understanding of these defects in fibromyalgic muscle may provide valuable insight with regard to treatment.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2013
Multicenter StudyDo radiographic disease and pain account for why people with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis do not meet physical activity guidelines?
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and pain are assumed to be barriers to meeting physical activity guidelines, but this has not been formally evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportions of people with and those without knee OA and knee pain who meet recommended physical activity levels through walking. ⋯ Disease and pain have little impact on achieving recommended physical activity levels among people with or at high risk of knee OA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2013
The role of sleep problems in central pain processing in rheumatoid arthritis.
Among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, the intensity of pain may be out of proportion to the severity of peripheral inflammation. This observation suggests that mechanisms of central nervous system pain amplification, such as diminished conditioned pain modulation (CPM), may play a role in enhancing pain perception among some RA patients. This study was undertaken to examine the level of CPM, pressure-pain threshold, and pressure-pain tolerance among RA patients compared to healthy controls. ⋯ RA patients have impaired CPM when compared to pain-free control subjects. Sleep problems may mediate the association between RA and attenuated CPM.