Date of Award
2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Kinesiology
Supervisor
Dr. Timothy J. Doherty
Second Advisor
Dr. Michael W. Nicolle
Third Advisor
Dr. Charles Rice
Abstract
The objective of this thesis was to quantify, by direct measurement of muscle force, the strength and fatigue of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). MG is characterized by fatigable muscle weakness resulting from impaired neuromuscular transmission. A maximal voluntary isometric contraction protocol of shoulder abductors was used in conjunction with conventional fatigue and disease severity instruments. Results from patients with (D-MG) and without. decrement (ND-MG) on repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) were compared to controls. Patients with MG reported experiencing greater fatigue than controls. Muscle strength was the lowest in the D-MG group followed by the ND-MG group and controls, respectively. Surprisingly, normalized shoulder abduction fatigue and recovery values did not differ between patients with MG and controls. Greater experienced fatigue in MG may correspond to confounding variables such as physical inactivity. In addition, decrement upon RNS, appears to relate best to disease severity and muscle weakness but not to fatigue in this population.
Recommended Citation
Symonette, M. Caitlin J., "QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF STRENGTH AND FATIGUE IN PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS" (2008). Digitized Theses. 4744.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4744