OBJECTIVE: To analyse the influence of chronic pain on muscle strength. DESIGN: Muscle strength of patients with unilateral nonspecific chronic pain, in an upper or lower limb, were measured according to a standardized protocol using a hand-held dynamometer. Before and after muscle strength measurement, a visual analogue scale for pain intensity was assessed. RESULTS: Forty patients were measured and the muscle strength of the painful side was 20-30% less than that of the nonpainful side. Strength reduction was seen in the whole limb. A significant correlation between pain intensity and reduced muscle strength in the painful limb existed for hip flexion, knee flexion, knee extension and three-point grip. CONCLUSIONS: A strength reduction of 20-30% in a painful limb seems to be 'normal' in chronic pain patients.
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Wilgen et al. (2003) studied this question.