Feasibility, Disease Severity Correlations, and the Predictive Value of Handgrip Strength in Children and Adolescents with ME/CFS

Lorenz Mihatsch provided a poster presentation on a study assessing the feasibility of handgrip strength (HGS) test in children, adolescents, and young adults with ME/CFS, to explore its correlation with markers of disease severity, and to evaluate its predictive value as a diagnostic marker. HGS was measured using an electric dynamometer, with maximal (Fmax), mean force (Fmean), and fatigue ratios (FR) recorded in two separate sessions, as well as the recovery ratio (RR). Measurements were correlated with clinical data and questionnaires assessing disease severity, activity levels, and health-related quality of life. Both Fmax and Fmean HGS were significantly lower in the ME/CFS and disease control groups compared to healthy controls. The findings demonstrate that measuring HGS in children, adolescents, and young adults with ME/CFS shows promise as a part of a set of diagnostic markers.