Responsiveness of the Gait Domain of the Functional Evaluation Scale for Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the responsiveness of functional gait assessment of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Method: A total of 160 films of 32 children (mean age: 9.5 ± 2.7) with DMD were scored by the gait domain of the Functional Evaluation Scale – DMD. Children were recorded every 3 months for 1 year (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months). Responsiveness was analyzed by the effect sizes (ES) and standardized response means (SRM). Results: Responsiveness was low to moderate at the 3-month interval (ES 0.12 to 0.34; SRM 0.27 to 0.80); low to high at the 6-month interval (ES 0.36 to 0.72; SRM 0.37 to 1.10); moderate to high at the 9-month interval (ES 0.70 to 1.0; SRM 0.50 to 1.43), and it was high at the 12-month interval (ES 0.74 to 1.34; SRM 0.88 to 1.53). Conclusion: Functional gait assessment of children with DMD was responsive since 3-month intervals. Responsiveness increased as reassessment intervals got longer. The highest responsiveness was observed when children were reevaluated after 12 months. The use of the gait domain of the Functional Evaluation Scale – DMD is recommended in 6- to 12-month intervals, which showed moderate to high responsiveness.

KEYWORDS:

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• gait
• motor activity
• physical evaluation
• responsiveness
• scale

Acknowledgments

Our sincere appreciation to all children, parents and caregivers who participated in this study and to the Full Professors Mayana Zatz and Mariz Vainzof, who kindly provided the image bank.