title: Quantification of muscle strength and motor ability in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on steroid therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. samaralsparreira@ibest.com.br
authors.forename: Samara Lamounier Santana
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Parreira
authors.forename: Maria Bernadete Dutra
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Marília
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Corte Peduto
authors.forename: Suely Kazue Nagahashi
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: Mary Souza
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Umbertina Conti
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011282:Pregnenediones; D011239:Prednisolone; C021988:deflazacort; D011241:Prednisone