Scientific Research and Essays

  • Abbreviation: Sci. Res. Essays
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1992-2248
  • DOI: 10.5897/SRE
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2768

Full Length Research Paper

Reliability of balance tests in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Bahar Aras1*, Ozgen Aras1 and Ayse Karaduman2
1Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Dumlupınar University, Kutahya- Turkey. 2Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation,Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara-Turkey.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 22 August 2011
  •  Published: 19 September 2011

Abstract

The first aim of the study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of functional balance tests in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and the second aim was to examine the relation between balance tests and motor functions in children with DMD. Timed up and go test (TUG) and functional reach test (FRT) were used for the evaluation of balance. Hammersmith motor ability scale (HMAS) was used to assess motor functions. Test-retest reliability was determined by using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the relation between balance tests and HMAS. Both TUG and FRT had good test-retest reliability. ICC score for TUG was 0.86 (95%, CI=0.69 to 0.94) and 0.96 (95%, CI=0.92 to 0.98) for FRT. A significant negative correlation was found between TUG and HMAS with a correlation coefficient of rho= -0.69, p<0.01. A significant positive correlation was found between FRT and HMAS with a correlation coefficient of rho= 0.47, p<0.05. Our results provide evidence that, FRT and TUG are reliable measures and may be used to monitor change over time, particularly following interventions that aim to improve motor functions in children with DMD.

 

Key words: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, balance tests, reliability.