Motor assessment in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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.