Functional level and its relationship to upper extremity function, pain, and muscle stiffness in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Abstract

The progressive symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) negatively affect upper extremity skills, and this may have an effect that reduces the independence of daily life. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between functional level and upper extremity function, pain, and stiffness in children with DMD. A total of 38 children with DMD were participated. The functional level of the upper and lower extremities was assessed using Brooke scale and Vignos scale. Upper extremity function, pain and stiffness were assessed using Upper Limb Short Questionnaire (ULSQ). The correlation between ULSQ and Brooke and Vignos scales was calculated. A moderate positive correlation was calculated between ULSQ total scores and Vignos scale (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) and Brooke scale (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between Vignos scale scores and ULSQ subscores of function (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) and stiffness (r = 0.56, p < 0.001); no significant correlation was found between pain scores and Vignos scale (p = 0.053). There was a moderate positive correlation between the function (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), pain (r = 0.40, p < 0.05), and stiffness (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) subscores of the ULSQ with the Brooke scale. In our study, there was a significant relationship between the functional level of patients with DMD and upper extremity function, pain, and muscle stiffness.