FARKLI NÖROMUSKÜLER HASTALIKLARDA AYAK BİLEĞİ LİMİTASYONUNUN YÜRÜME BECERİSİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of the ankle limitation on the walking ability among two groups that have different spatial distribution of the weakness. In total, 40 children at the levels 1-3 of the Brooke Lower Extremity Scale are included in this study. 20 of them have been diagnosed distal muscle weakness (mean ages: 12.9±3.3 year), and the other 20 have been proximal muscle weakness (mean ages: 9±3.1). The demographic information were recorded. Ankle joint limitation were measured with goniometer. Their ambulatory capacities were evaluated with the 6 minutes walk test (6MWT). Total walking distances in 6 minutes, strolls that taken, step counts, stride lengths, and cadences were saved. There was not any significant difference between the groups with respect to the limitations in ankle joints’ movement and 6 minute total walking distance (p > 0.05). For the other 6MWT walking parametres, there was a statistically significant difference on the stride lengths in the test in favour of (to the good) the group with distal muscle weakness (p< 0.01). There was a negative correlation between the right (r=-0.579, p=0.01) and left (r=-0.445, p= 0.05) ankle dorsiflexion limitations and 6MWT results in the group with proximal muscle weakness. The study showed the importance of the ankle joint motion on walking performance of the individuals beginning from early stages of their neuromuscular diseases (NMD), particularly on the walking performance of the children with muscular dystrophy with proximal muscle weakness.