Strength and Functional Measurement for Patients with Muscular Dystrophy

Abstract

Introduction Progressive Progressive muscle weakness is the major symptom of patients with muscular dystrophy. The aims of the chapter are to introduce the strength decrease pattern and functional assessment, and to exam the advantages and disadvantages of these measurements applied to various types of muscular dystrophy. Three parts of the measurement for muscular dystrophy are included: the strength decrease pattern, the common general functional scales, and the disease specific scale. This chapter places emphasis on patients with more weakness in proximal than distal parts. The most common type of proximal muscular dystrophy is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Due to rapid deterioration, DMD can be seen as a severe form of muscular dystrophy. Other types of proximal muscular dystrophies have a slower rate of disease progression compared to DMD, such as Beck muscular dystrophy (BMD), limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and others.