Quantification of muscle strength and motor ability in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on steroid therapy.
OBJECTIVE
An assessment protocol was applied to quantify and describe muscular strength and motor abilities of 32 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), aged between 5 and 12 years on steroid therapy.


METHODS
Assessments were made monthly for the first six months and with intervals of two months thereafter until the 14-month end point. The tests employed included: the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale; the Hammersmith motor ability score; maximum weight lift; timed rise from floor and nine-meter walk.


RESULTS
The results showed that loss of muscular strength and motor abilities were slowed in comparison to that observed in the natural evolution of the disease according to the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that a swift and objective assessment may be performed using the MRC scale for lower limbs and trunk, the Hammersmith motor ability score, timed nine-meter walk and weight lifts.
Parreira
Samara Lamounier Santana
SL
Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. samaralsparreira@ibest.com.br
Resende
Maria Bernadete Dutra
MB
Della Corte Peduto
Marília
M
Marie
Suely Kazue Nagahashi
SK
Carvalho
Mary Souza
MS
Reed
Umbertina Conti
UC
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011282:Pregnenediones; D011239:Prednisolone; C021988:deflazacort; D011241:Prednisone