Affiliations: [a] Program in Physical Therapy, Department of
Kinesiology, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT,
USA | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler Faculty of
Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Richard W. Bohannon, Program in
Physical Therapy, Department of Kinesiology, Neag School of Education,
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2101, USA. Tel.: +1 860 486 0048;
Fax: +1 860 486 1588; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The strength profile of two patients suffering from polymyositis is
presented. In the first patient, 6 muscle actions (shoulder abduction, elbow
flexion, grip, hip flexion, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion) were measured
bilaterally in 3 ways including a modification of the Stroke Impact Scale,
manual muscle testing and hand-held dynamometry. All methods indicated
considerable weakness, including that of the distal muscles. In the second
patient, concentric and eccentric strength of the quadriceps was measured 6
times over a period of 13 years. The findings strongly demonstrated a
progressive increase in knee extension weakness. The results support the notion
that polymyositis affects distal as well as proximal muscles and that the
weakness is fully appreciated when the strength of the muscles involved is
quantitatively measured using dynamometry.
