Article

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlations between
change scores on the Manual Muscle Test for muscle strength and the Gross Motor
Function Measure for motor function in individuals with spinal muscular atrophy
type 2 and type 3. The specific aims were to reveal any differences in
correlations between younger (children) and older (adolescents and adults)
individuals and also between walkers and nonwalkers with spinal muscular atrophy.
DESIGN: A total of 56 individuals with spinal muscular atrophy aged 5 to 41 yrs
were recruited. Muscle strength and motor function were measured three times at
6-mo intervals. The Manual Muscle Test scores of 36 muscle groups and Gross Motor
Function Measure scores were obtained. Differences in these scores over time
(baseline to 6 mos and baseline to 12 mos) were calculated. RESULTS: Changes in
Manual Muscle Test scores correlated positively to changes in Gross Motor
Function Measure scores over 12 mos (r = 0.35, P = 0.01). Significantly positive
correlations between the change scores over 12 mos were evident in the older
group (r = 0.48, P = 0.02) and in nonwalkers (r = 0.47, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
The correlations between change scores on Manual Muscle Test and on Gross Motor
Function Measure suggest that these two measures are suitable for representing
concurrent changes in muscle strength and motor function in spinal muscular
atrophy within 12 mos.

Langue : ANGLAIS