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Walking activity in a large cohort of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

  • Donovan J. Lott
  • , Tanja Taivassalo
  • , Claudia R. Senesac
  • , Rebecca J. Willcocks
  • , Ann M. Harrington
  • , Kirsten Zilke
  • , Hilary Cunkle
  • , Catherine Powers
  • , Erika L. Finanger
  • , William D. Rooney
  • , Gihan I. Tennekoon
  • , Krista Vandenborne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: In this study we explored walking activity in a large cohort of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Methods: Step activity (monitored for 7 days), functional ability, and strength were quantified in ambulatory boys (5-12.9 years of age) with DMD and unaffected boys. Ambulatory status was determined 2 years later. Results: Two to 5 days of activity monitoring predicted weekly step activity (adjusted R2 = 0.80-0.95). Age comparisons revealed significant declines for step activity with increasing age, and relationships were found between step activity with both function and strength (P <.01). Our regression model predicted 36.5% of the variance in step activity. Those who were still ambulatory after 2 years demonstrated baseline step activity nearly double that of those who were no longer walking 2 years later (P <.01). Discussion: Step activity for DMD is related to and predictive of functional declines, which may be useful for clinical trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-198
Number of pages7
JournalMuscle and Nerve
Volume63
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2021

Funding

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Number: R01 AR056973; Rehabilitation Research Career Development Program (NIH), Grant/Award Number: K12‐HD055929 Funding information The ImagingDMD study was financially supported by funding from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (R01 AR056973). The authors are grateful to the boys who participated and the support of their families. We also thank Venessa Bibeau, Alex Millette, and Paul Park for their assistance with data processing and analyses.

FundersFunder number
Author National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health The Bev Hartig Huntington's Disease Foundation National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesR01AR056973

    Keywords

    • accelerometry, daily steps, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, functional ability, physical activity, walking

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physiology
    • Clinical Neurology
    • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
    • Physiology (medical)

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