Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Pamukkale Medical Journal, cilt.15, sa.3, ss.425-431, 2022 (Scopus)
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hamstring flexibility and ambulation in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Materials and methods: Sixty children with a diagnosis of DMD between the ages of 5 and 13,5 and whose functional levels were Level 1 and 2 according to the Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Classification (BLEFC) were included in the study. The hamstring flexibility of the children was evaluated with the popliteal angle test and their ambulation with the North Star Ambulation Assessment (NSAA) scale. The relationship between hamstring flexibility and parameters of NSAA was evaluated with Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The mean hamstring flexibility of the children included in the study was 53.78°±30.32° and the mean of the NSAA scale was 24.93±6.44 points. A negative, moderate correlation was found between the hamstring flexibility and NSAA (r=-0.544, p<0.001). When the relationships between NSAA sub-parameters and hamstring flexibility were examined, a significant relationship was found between flexibility and many sub-parameters in a negative direction, weak-moderate strength (p<0.05). In addition, it was found that hamstring flexibility and NSAA score differ between Levels 1 and 2 according to BLEFC (p<0.001). Conclusion: Hamstring flexibility was determined to be an important factor for ambulation of children with DMD. Inclusion of hamstring flexibility increasing/protective approaches in physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs from the early period was thought to be important in terms of preserving/developing ambulation in this patient group.