THE INFLUENCE OF HANDEDNESS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF MUSCULAR WEAKNESS OF THE ARM IN FACIOSCAPULOHUMERAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

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Abstract
The strength of 10 muscle groups in both arms was measured using hand-held myometry to determine the influence of handedness on left-right differences of muscle strength in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) Two groups of subjects were studied. 24 healthy volunteers (19 right-handed), and 53 patients (42 right-handed) with autosomal dominant FSHD An opposite left-right difference of strength of shoulder and arm muscles was found, right-handed volunteers were stronger on the right side, right-handed patients were stronger on the left side. This opposite left-right difference was statistically significant for the supraspinatus muscle, the wrist extensors and the shoulder internal rotators. The number of left-handed subjects was too small for statistical analysis. The relation between handedness and increased muscle weakness in right-handed FSHD patients suggests that mechanical factors may play a distinct role in the progression of muscle weakness in FSHD.

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