BACKGROUND: Knowing the potential for and limitations of information generated using different
evaluation instruments favors the development of more accurate functional
diagnoses and therapeutic decision-making. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the number of compensatory movements when
climbing up and going down stairs, age, functional classification and time taken
to perform a tested activity (TA) of going up and down stairs in boys with
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHOD: A bank of movies featuring 30 boys with DMD performing functional activities was
evaluated. Compensatory movements were assessed using the climbing up and going
down stairs domain of the Functional Evaluation Scale for Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy (FES-DMD); age in years; functional classification using the Vignos
Scale (VS), and TA using a timer. Statistical analyses were performed using the
Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: There is a moderate relationship between the climbing up stairs domain of the
FES-DMD and age (r=0.53, p=0.004) and strong relationships with VS (r=0.72,
p=0.001) and TA for this task (r=0.83, p<0.001). There were weak relationships
between the going down stairs domain of the FES-DMD-going down stairs with age
(r=0.40, p=0.032), VS (r=0.65, p=0.002) and TA for this task (r=0.40, p=0.034).
CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the evaluation of compensatory movements used when
climbing up stairs can provide more relevant information about the evolution of
the disease, although the activity of going down stairs should be investigated,
with the aim of enriching guidance and strengthening accident prevention. Data
from the FES-DMD, age, VS and TA can be used in a complementary way to formulate
functional diagnoses. Longitudinal studies and with broader age groups may
supplement this information.