Motor assessment in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate muscle force and motor function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in a period of six months.


METHODS
Twenty children and adolescents with diagnosis of DMD were evaluated trough: measurement of the strength of the flexors and extensors of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle through the Medical Research Council (MRC), and application of the Motor Function Measure (MFM). The patients were evaluated twice within a six-month interval.


RESULTS
Loss of muscle strength was identified in the MRC score for upper proximal members (t=-2.17, p=0.04). In the MFM, it was noted significant loss in the dimension 1 (t=-3.06, p=0.006). Moderate and strong correlations were found between the scores for muscular strength and the MFM dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
The MFM scale was a useful instrument in the follow up of patients with DMD. Moreover, it is a more comprehensive scale to assess patients and very good for conducting trials to evaluate treatment.
Fisioterapeuta do Ambulatório de Doenças Neuromusculares do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Mestre em Ciências da Saúde pela UFMG, Minas Gerais MG, Brasil. gabrielapcd@gmail.com
Gabriela Palhares Campolina
GP
Diniz
Laura Maria de Lima Belizário Facury
LM
Lasmar
Juliana Gurgel
JG
Giannetti
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult