The effects of flexibility on performance among patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flexibility on performance in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Thirty children with DMD were included with the mean age of 7,77±2,03 years. Flexibility of lumbal extansors and trunk lateral flexors in trunk and flexibility of hamstrings, hip flexors, tensor fascia latae and gastrocnemius muscles in lower extremity were evaluated. In the flexibility evaluation, sit and reach test, V-sit reach test, Fingertip to Floor test and trunk lateral flexion tests for the trunk and hamstring, popliteal angle, hip flexors, tensor fasciae latae and gastrocnemius flexibility tests for the lower extremity were used. Performance was evaulated with 6 minute walk test (6MWT), North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) and timed performance tests. In our study, trunk flexibility was not correlated with ambulance and performance in children with DMD in early stage ambulation (r>0,2; p>0,05). It was founda that, in lower extremity, particularly the flexibility of hamstrings (r=-0,825; p<0,001) and respectively the flexibilities of gastrocnemius (r=0,545; p<0,01),hip flexors (r=0,481; p<0,01) and tensor fasciae latae (r=0,445; p<0,05) were related to performance. These results indicated that flexibility of lower extremity in early childhood physiotherapy programs should be maintained/increased in children with DMD.