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Updated: May 21, 2026
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Motor assessment in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Gabriela Palhares Campolina Diniz1, Laura Maria de Lima Belizário Facury Lasmar, Juliana Gurgel Giannetti
1Fisioterapeuta 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
Objective:
Evaluate muscle force and motor function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in a period of six months.
Method:
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.
Conclusion:
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.
