TASK-INDUCED ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVATION IN FIBROMYALGIA SUBJECTS AND CONTROLS

Ten female fibromyalgia subjects (mean age = 48.4) and ten matched hea lthy controls (mean age = 50.6) performed a perceptual-motor video tas k. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from three sites before , during, and after perceptual-motor task performance (active and 'pas sive' forearms: Surface above m. flexor carpi radialis; neck: Surface above m. trapezius, right side). Task performance provoked EMG activat ion at all recording sites and in both subject groups, and scores fail ed to distinguish between the groups. However, the quality of task per formance was inferior in the fibromyalgia group. Responses to motivati onal state measures obtained from the experimental situation revealed no group differences. The fibromyalgia subjects reported relatively hi gh exposure to stressors attributed to their own body (but not to work , family, and economy), and high efforts invested to cope with such st ressors in everyday life. The results failed to support a role for hig h muscle tension and anxiety in fibromyalgia.