The association of hand grip strength with functional measures in non-ambulatory children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy


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BULUT N., GÜRBÜZ İ., YILMAZ Ö., AYDIN G., Karaduman A. A.

Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria, vol.77, no.11, pp.792-796, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 77 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1590/0004-282x20190161
  • Journal Name: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.792-796
  • Keywords: Neuromuscular disease, muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, MUSCLE STRENGTH, TURKISH VERSION, RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, ABILITY
  • Lokman Hekim University Affiliated: No

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a disease characterized by progressive loss of muscle fiber, gradually from proximal to distal. Although a few studies have investigated hand grip strength in non-ambulatory DMD patients, a lack of literature was found determining its relationship with functional capacity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the associations between hand grip strength and functional measures in non-ambulatory children with DMD. METHODS: Hand grip strength was evaluated using a dynamometer in children with DMD. The children with DMD were evaluated with the Turkish version of the Egen Klassifikation Scale Version 2 (EK2) for global functional capacity, the Performance of Upper Limb (PUL) for upper limb functional performance and the ABILHAND-Kids for hand ability. RESULTS: The mean age of 38 DMD children was 12.02 ± 1.99 years. Dominant hand grip strength of the children with DMD was higher than the non-dominant hand (p < 0.05). The EK2 was 13.02 ± 5.50, PUL was 49.86 ± 14.34 and ABILHAND-Kids was 26.81 ± 7.59. Hand grip strength was found to be correlated with the EK2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is known that measuring functional ability and strength in very weak children with DMD has been difficult and complex for therapists/clinicians in the clinical environment. Although there is a moderate correlation, hand grip strength may be used in clinical practice as a practical assessment tool to have an immediate insight into the global functional capacity in non-ambulatory DMD children.