Hand Dominance in Fibromyalgia

Evaluating laterality changes in different psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases has recently been one of the popular perspectives of laterality studies. There are studies reporting changes in functional and structural hemispheric asymmetries in some neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases, and thus relations with atypical lateralization patterns or handedness. There is no study in the literature evaluating brain lateralization or handedness in fibromyalgia. The aim of our study is to evaluate the relationship between handedness, which is an indicator of brain lateralization, and fibromyalgia disease severity and functional outcomes related to fibromyalgia in patients with fibromyalgia. This cross-sectional study included 40 fibromyalgia patients aged 20-50 years, meeting the American College of Rheumatology 2016 Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria, and 40 healthy volunteers in the same age range as the control group. Information about the age, gender, height, weight, and comorbidities of the participants included in the study were recorded. In addition, information about the duration of fibromyalgia diagnosis and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia were also recorded in the patient group. Handgrip strengths with Jamar-type hand dynamometer, tip pinch strengths with pinch meter, and hand dexterities with the Nine-Hole Peg Test were evaluated for both hands of all participants. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were administered to all participants. In addition, the American College of Rheumatology 2016 Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria was questioned in the patient group, and the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was applied.