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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating neuromuscular disease of childhood which is characterized by progressive muscle weakness that limits the functional activities of daily life in course of time and result in decreased quality of life. The benefits of increasing the physical activity (PA) level and participation on general health status in children with DMD was previously mentioned in literature. Parents have been reported to have an important impact on their child's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in many dimensions of development throughout their lives. Studies showed that there was a significant correlation between parental impact and child's PA level and participation in healthy children. The aim of this study was to investigate the family impact on PA level, interest in PA, and participation level of their school-age children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This cross-sectional, observational study included a total of 30 ambulatory children between 8 and 18 years of age (mean: 8.70 ± 0.84). Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and pedometer were used to assess PA level of children while International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used to determine the PA level of parents. Children's Attraction to Physical Activity (CAPA), Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), and Children's Physical Activity Correlates (CPAC) questionnaires were also used to evaluate interest in PA, participation level, and family impact on PA level of children, respectively. Low-to-moderate correlations were determined between family impact sub-score of CPAC and PAQ-C, CAPA and PODCI while moderate correlation was found between PAQ-C and parents' IPAQ-SF score (p < 0.05). This study revealed the importance of parents' support and encouragement as well as their own PA habit in shaping their child's behaviors and attitudes towards PA in an early-stage, school-aged DMD population. In order to achieve the goal of increasing PA level and participation of children with DMD, a family-centered rehabilitation approach may be more effective. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT05209087; Date: 25.01.2022. Highlights: School-age children with DMD had moderate PA and participation levels as well as moderate interest in PA. Parents, especially the primary caregiver, had a significant impact on PA level and participation of DMD children. The PA levels of the parents had an impact on the PA level of children with DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the gait and balance disturbances of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients were evaluated by using different methods in literature, the impact of the foot and body posture on gait and balance has not been clearly described yet in DMD. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between foot-body posture and gait and balance in patients with DMD. Methods: Ambulatory patients with DMD who had > 90° range of motion at ankle joint were included in the study. Foot and body posture were evaluated with the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and the New York Posture Rating (NYPR). The limitation degree at the ankle joint (ALD) was recorded. Gait characteristics and balance were evaluated objectively by using the GAITRite system and the Bertec Balance Check Screener™ force platform system, respectively. Results: A total of 38 ambulatory patients with DMD (age: 92.44 ± 17.91 months) were recruited. Both the right and left foot FPI-6 scores were correlated with GAITRite parameters such as ambulation time, gait speed, number of steps, and left and right stride lengths (p < 0.05). A relationship was determined between right foot FPI-6 score and anterior–posterior limits of stability (LoS) obtained by force platform (p < 0.05). NYPR score was also correlated with the postural control parameters such as left and right base of support and anterior posterior LoS (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The current findings indicate a contribution of foot and body posture to gait and balance disorders of children with DMD. Clinical Trial Number: NCT04353167, Date of registration: April 16, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aims of this study were (a) to examine the surface electromyography (sEMG) amplitude values of the lower limb muscles during stair climbing both between different functional levels of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), in comparison with healthy children, and (b) to investigate the relationships between sEMG amplitudes and physical performance.Methods: sEMG amplitudes of the lower limbs of twenty-one children with DMD between levels I and III according to the Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Classification Scale and eleven healthy peers were evaluated by using sEMG during stair climbing task. Physical performance was evaluated by 6-min walk test and ascending 4-step timed performance test.Results: The lower limb sEMG amplitude values of children with DMD were statistically higher than healthy children (p < 0.001). sEMG amplitudes of the right (p = 0.01) and left (p = 0.003) biceps femoris, the right (p < 0.001) and left (p = 0.001) gastrocnemius medialis, and the right vastus lateralis (p = 0.02) muscles were higher in children with levels 2-3 than those in level 1. Moderate-to-strong relations were found between the gastrocnemius medialis and biceps femoris sEMG amplitudes and physical performance assessments (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Increased sEMG amplitude values in the lower limbs during stair climbing task are thought to be caused by the effort to compensate for progressive muscle weakness and are associated with lower physical performance in children with DMD. Further, sEMG amplitude values are determined to increase as the functional level deteriorates.Clinical Trial Registration Number and Url: NCT04287582 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04287582?term=merve+bora&draw=2&rank=1 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to describe a school-aged Turkish cerebral palsy (CP) population in terms of gross motor function, mobility, independence, and participation, and to investigate parental stress. Methods: Mobility (Functional Mobility Scale (FMS)), independence (Barthel Index (BI)), motor function (Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM)), functional classification (Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)), participation (Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI)), and parents' stress (Parental Stress Scale (PSS)) of 100 school-aged children with CP aged 5–15 years old were evaluated. School-related difficulties and restrictions were also questioned. Results: Of the 100 children with GMFCS levels I–V, almost half had independent mobility on level or all surfaces according to the FMS, with a relatively high GMFM score (72.8%), and above average BI (12 from 20), and PODCI Global Functioning (62.8%) scores. Strong-to-very strong correlations were determined between all test batteries. A mean score of 42.3 ± 9.92 out of 90 was obtained for parental stress with a weak correlation to the GMFCS and the child's mobility distance according to family (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Turkish school-aged children with CP displayed functional abilities that are above average besides experiencing restrictions in the school environment. Parents' view on the physical condition of the school varied depending on functional and mobility levels of their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]