Quantification of muscle strength and motor ability in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on steroid therapy

• Autor(a) principal: Parreira,Samara Lamounier Santana
• Data de Publicação: 2007
• Outros Autores: Resende,Maria Bernadete Dutra, Peduto,Marília Della Corte, Marie,Suely Kazue Nagahashi, Carvalho,Mary Souza, Reed,Umbertina Conti
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2007000200011
• topic: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; corticosteroids; muscle strength; motor ability; MRC scale; Hammersmith motor ability score

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. METHOD: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.