Hand grip strength test protocol?

[Avtir]

I've been hearing about a lot of people getting tested for hand grip strength to give a good indication of having PEM. (And there's research: Hand Grip Strength as a Clinical Biomarker for ME/CFS and Disease Severity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6277492/)

I have searched everywhere for the protocol for this test. Something in laymen's terms that's step-by-step for my doctor. I can't find anything. And my brain is an issue.

I don't 100% trust my doctor to get it right. I brought her the Bateman Horne Center's protocol for the NASA lean test and it should take at least 10 minutes; she did it in about 3 minutes. I want to do the grip test at home before asking her to do it.

Does anyone know of anything that exists? Can you please provide a link?

Thank you.

 

[Creekside]

I question whether it's a good indicator. I didn't notice any significant strength reduction--hand grip or otherwise--when in PEM or any other phase of ME. It might be a reliable indicator for a subset of PWME, but more studies would need to be done to verify that.

What is your purpose for the test results? At present, I don't think it would count as a reliable clinical verification of PEM.

 

[Avtir]

The reason I ask is that the CPET test is the only other way to determine PEM. And the CPET test is dangerous. It has permanently disabled people. I was thinking that the hand grip strength test was a better alternative. Others I know with PEM have reported that test being used in clinics now. And I found three peer-reviewed scientific research studies supporting that. They are:

1.
Hand grip strength and fatigability: correlation with clinical parameters and diagnostic suitability in ME/CFS:

Hand grip strength and fatigability: correlation with clinical parameters and diagnostic suitability in ME/CFS - Journal of Translational Medicine

Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and debilitating disease accompanied by muscular fatigue and pain. A functional measure to assess muscle fatigability of ME/CFS patients is, however, not established in clinical routine. The aim of this study is...

translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com

2. Repeated Hand Grip Strength is an Objective Marker for Disability and Severity of Key Symptoms in Post-COVID ME/CFS: https://ammes.org/2024/01/27/repeat...everity-of-key-symptoms-in-post-covid-me-cfs/

3. Hand Grip Strength as a Clinical Biomarker for ME/CFS and Disease Severity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6277492/