Effect of acute infectious disease on isometric muscle strength

Abstract

Isometric strength of different muscle groups was recorded in thirty-nine patients suffering various acute infectious diseases, predominantly of viral or mycoplasma aetiology. Recordings were performed after subsidence of fever, and 1, and 4 months thereafter. A control group of twenty-two healthy men, confined to bed for the same period of time as the patients, were investigated at the same time intervals. In addition, control measurements were performed after 1 year in the patients, and prior to bed rest in the control subjects. As a result of illness muscle strength was decreased significantly to 85·4–95·3% of that recorded at 4 months. In the control subjects strength did not change significantly, the corresponding percentages being 96·3–102·5. Thus, the present data indicate that these illnesses in themselves may bring about isometric muscle strength reduction.

Key Words:

• bed rest
• infection
• skeletal muscles