title: Contractures in neuromuscular disease.
abstract: The percentage of subjects with contractures, mean maximal loss of range, and relative contracture indices are reported in 230 patients, with 11 diseases seen in a neuromuscular disease clinic during a five-year period. The highest percentage of contractures occurred in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The number of contractures was significantly greater (p less than .001) (1) in the lower than in the upper extremities; (2) in diseases considered myopathic than in those considered neuropathic; (3) in diseases that are X-linked than in those that are not; and (4) in rapidly progressive than in slowly progressive diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California--Davis, Sacramento 95817.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lieberman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003286:Contracture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index