Investigation of the relationship between lower extremity proprioception and motor function in duchenne muscular dystrophy

This study was planned to compare lower extremity proprioception in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) with healthy peers and to determine the relationship between lower extremity proprioception and motor function, balance, falls, trunk control, quality of life, and participation in DMD. The study included 36 ambulatory children with DMD aged between 6 and 15 years who could walk at least 75 meters independently and could perform 30 degrees of hip external rotation in supine position and 20 healthy children with similar demographic characteristics. In the study, the evaluation of proprioception, including verbal identification, location verification, and matching tests with the same and opposite extremity was performed using a laser pointer (Motion Guidance-MG®) device. Temporal performance tests included walking 10 m, ascending and descending 4 steps, and standing up from supine position, performance was assessed using 6DYT distance, muscle strength was assessed using Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC), ambulation was assessed using North Star Ambulation Assessment (NSAA), trunk control was assessed using the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), balance was assessed using the Four Square Step Test (FSST) and Pediatric Functional Reach Test (PFUT), quality of life was assessed using the PedsQL-3.0 Neuromuscular Module, and participation was assessed using the Pediatric Data Collection Tool (PVTA). The results of the study showed that children with DMD have a loss of lower extremity proprioception and that this loss has far-reaching effects in relation to functional measures developed specifically for the disease. Our study revealed that proprioception assessments should be included in the follow-up of children with DMD from an early stage.