ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate possible asymmetries and relationships between performance of dominant and non-dominant upper limbs (UL) in patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD/BMD), to compare UL performance of patients and healthy subjects and to investigate the relationship between timed performance of UL and age, motor function and muscle strength in DMD/BMD patients. Sixteen patients with DMD and 3 with BMD were evaluated with Jebsen-Taylor Test (timed performance), Vignos scale and Dimension 3 of Motor Function Measure (motor function), and Medical Research Council scale (muscle strength) on a single session. ANOVA showed no asymmetry between dominant and non-dominant UL, except in the writing subtest, in patients and in healthy controls. There were relationships between dominant and non-dominant UL performances. Correlations between timed performance, motor function and muscle strength were found, but age was not correlated with these variables. These findings may reduce the assessment time, prevent fatigue and provide more accurate clinical reasoning involving UL in DMD/BMD treatment.
Subject(s)
Functional Laterality/physiology , Motor Activity/physiology , Muscle Strength/physiology , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/physiopathology , Upper Extremity/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Case-Control Studies , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Disability Evaluation , Female , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
Dogs suffering from Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) present symptoms that are similar to human patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Phenotypic variability is common in both cases and correlates with disease progression and response to therapy. Physical therapy assessment tools were used to study disease progression and assess phenotypic variability in dogs with GRMD. At 5 (T0), 9 (T1), 13 (T2) and 17 (T3)months of age, the physical features, joint ranges of motion (ROM), limb and thorax circumferences, weight and creatine kinase (CK) levels were assessed in 11 dogs with GRMD. Alterations of physical features were higher at 13 months, and different disease progression rates were observed. Passive ROM decreased until 1 year old, which was followed by a decline of elbow and tarsal ROM. Limb and thorax circumferences, which were corrected for body weight, decreased significantly between T0 and T3. These measurements can be used to evaluate disease progression in dogs with GRMD and to help discover new therapies for DMD patients.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/physiopathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/physiopathology , Pathology, Veterinary/methods , Animals , Brazil , Disease Models, Animal , Disease Progression , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Dog Diseases/therapy , Dogs , Female , Humans , Male , Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/diagnosis , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/therapy , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/physiopathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/therapy , Phenotype , Physical Examination/veterinary , Physical Therapy Modalities/veterinaryABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de um programa de hidroterapia na flexibilidade e na força muscular de mulheres idosas sedentárias. SUJEITOS: 31 idosas, saudáveis e sedentárias, com idade entre 65 e 70 anos (16 no grupo experimental e 15 no grupo controle). PROCEDIMENTOS: Foram realizados testes de força muscular por meio de miometria em músculos do membro superior, inferior e tronco, e realizada avaliação fotográfica da flexibilidade, utilizando os testes de envergadura e flexão anterior do tronco, antes e depois do programa, que constou de 28 sessões de uma hora e foi aplicado durante 14 semanas consecutivas. Os exercícios físicos foram organizados em sete níveis de dificuldade, selecionados visando ganho de flexibilidade e força muscular. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se diminuição estatisticamente significativa na flexão anterior de tronco de -15,4 por cento, o que significou uma diminuição média de 19,3 cm (±22,4) distância processo estilóide da ulna - maléolo lateral e melhora de 4,2 por cento no teste de envergadura, o que significou um aumento médio na distância dedo - dedo de 4,7 cm (±4,5). Nos músculos abdominais, glúteos e iliopsoas não ocorreu alteração estatisticamente significativa de força, e nos músculos quadríceps femoral, isquiotibiais, bíceps braquial, peitoral maior e médio e deltóide médio, obteve-se melhora estatisticamente significativa. CONCLUSÃO:O programa de hidroterapia proposto foi eficiente para melhorar a flexibilidade e, parcialmente, a força muscular das mulheres jovens idosas que participaram do estudo. Nossos resultados são compatíveis com os encontrados em estudos similares realizados no solo.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a hydrotherapy program on flexibility and muscle strength among sedentary elderly women. METHOD: The participants were 31 healthy sedentary elderly women aged between 65 and 70 years (16 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group). Muscle strength tests were carried out using myometry on arm, leg and chest muscles. Flexibility before and after the program was assessed by means of a photographic record of performance in toe-touch tests and tests of anterior flexion of the trunk. The program consisted of 28 one-hour sessions over a consecutive 14-week period. The physical exercises were organized in seven levels of difficulty that were selected to obtain gains in flexibility and muscle strength. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in anterior flexion of the trunk of - 15.4 percent, which signified a mean decrease of 19.3 cm (±22.4) in the distance from the styloid process of the ulna to the lateral malleolus, and an improvement of 4.2 percent in the toetouch test, which indicated a mean increase in finger-to-finger distance of 4.7 cm (±4.5). There were no statistically significant changes in strength in the abdominal, gluteal and iliopsoas muscles. The quadriceps femoris, hamstring, biceps brachii, pectoralis major, middle pectoralis and middle deltoid presented significant improvement. CONCLUSION: The proposed hydrotherapy program was efficient in improving flexibility and partially effective in improving muscle strength among the early elderly women who took part in the study. Our results are compatible with the findings from similar studies carried out on the ground.
