Affiliations: [a]
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University, Gaziantep, Turkey
| [b]
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Demet Gözaçan Karabulut, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University, Beştepe District 192180 Street 6/1, 27010 Gaziantep, Turkey. E-mail: dg.karabulut@gmail.com; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9235-1059.
Note: [1] ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4444-5717.
Note: [2] ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7134-8379.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Hand dexterity is important with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to compare hand dexterity and hand laterality task assessments in patients with DMD with typically-developing peers. METHODS:The study included 25 DMD with a mean age of 10.2±2.38 and 21 typically-developing peers with a mean age of 10.33±2.26. Functional levels of DMD patients were determined by Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Classification Scale and Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Scale. The ABILHAND-Kids and 9-hole peg test were used to assess the hand dexterity of all participants, and assess the hand laterality task. RESULTS:Patients with DMD had lower ABILHAND-Kids scores than their typically-developing peers (p < 0.001). Patients with DMD had higher 9-hole peg test duration on the dominant and non-dominant extremity compared to typically-developing peers (p < 0.001). Patients with DMD were found to be different from their typically-developing peers (p < 0.001) in lateralization response time and accuracy. CONCLUSION:Patients with DMD were found to have lower manual dexterity and hand laterality task skills compared to their typically-developing peers. It is recommended that hand dexterity and upper extremity recognition capacities should be considered in assessment and intervention programs for physiotherapists and clinicians working in this field.
