BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to develop a clinical assessment scale to measure functional ability in ambulant boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to determine the reliability of the scale in multiple centres in the UK. METHODS: Focus groups and workshops were held with experienced paediatric neuromuscular physiotherapists to determine scale content. A manual was prepared with accompanying videos, and training sessions were conducted. A total of 17 physiotherapists from participating centres used the videos to determine inter-rater reliability. Five determined the intra-rater reliability. RESULTS: Strength of agreement for these groups based on total subject scores was very good (0.95 and ≥ 0.93 for consistency and absolute agreement, respectively). Test-retest ability was high, with perfect agreement between occasions for all but two items of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the North Star Ambulatory Assessment is practical and reliable. It takes only 10 minutes to perform and incorporates both universally used timed tests as well as levels of activities, which allow assessment of high-functioning boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to develop a clinical assessment scale to measure functional ability in ambulant boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to determine the reliability of the scale in multiple centres in the UK. METHODS: Focus groups and workshops were held with experienced paediatric neuromuscular physiotherapists to determine scale content. A manual was prepared with accompanying videos, and training sessions were conducted. A total of 17 physiotherapists from participating centres used the videos to determine inter-rater reliability. Five determined the intra-rater reliability. RESULTS: Strength of agreement for these groups based on total subject scores was very good (0.95 and ≥ 0.93 for consistency and absolute agreement, respectively). Test-retest ability was high, with perfect agreement between occasions for all but two items of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the North Star Ambulatory Assessment is practical and reliable. It takes only 10 minutes to perform and incorporates both universally used timed tests as well as levels of activities, which allow assessment of high-functioning boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Authors: Pierre G Carlier; Benjamin Marty; Olivier Scheidegger; Paulo Loureiro de Sousa; Pierre-Yves Baudin; Eduard Snezhko; Dmitry Vlodavets Journal: J Neuromuscul Dis Date: 2016-03-03
Authors: Lilian A Y Fernandes; Fátima A Caromano; Silvana M B Assis; Michele E Hukuda; Mariana C Voos; Eduardo V Carvalho Journal: Braz J Phys Ther Date: 2014 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 3.377
Authors: Craig M McDonald; Erik K Henricson; R Ted Abresch; Jay J Han; Diana M Escolar; Julaine M Florence; Tina Duong; Adrienne Arrieta; Paula R Clemens; Eric P Hoffman; Avital Cnaan Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2013-05-16 Impact factor: 3.217
Authors: Katherine G Meilleur; Minal S Jain; Linda S Hynan; Ching-Yi Shieh; Eunice Kim; Melissa Waite; Michelle McGuire; Courtney Fiorini; Allan M Glanzman; Marion Main; Kristy Rose; Tina Duong; Roxanna Bendixen; Melody M Linton; Irene C Arveson; Carmel Nichols; Kelly Yang; Kenneth H Fischbeck; Kathryn R Wagner; Kathryn North; Ami Mankodi; Christopher Grunseich; Elizabeth J Hartnett; Michaele Smith; Sandra Donkervoort; Alice Schindler; Angela Kokkinis; Meganne Leach; A Reghan Foley; James Collins; Francesco Muntoni; Anne Rutkowski; Carsten G Bönnemann Journal: Neuromuscul Disord Date: 2014-09-28 Impact factor: 4.296
Authors: Anne M Connolly; Julaine M Florence; Mary M Cradock; Elizabeth C Malkus; Jeanine R Schierbecker; Catherine A Siener; Charlie O Wulf; Pallavi Anand; Paul T Golumbek; Craig M Zaidman; J Philip Miller; Linda P Lowes; Lindsay N Alfano; Laurence Viollet-Callendret; Kevin M Flanigan; Jerry R Mendell; Craig M McDonald; Erica Goude; Linda Johnson; Alina Nicorici; Peter I Karachunski; John W Day; Joline C Dalton; Janey M Farber; Karen K Buser; Basil T Darras; Peter B Kang; Susan O Riley; Elizabeth Shriber; Rebecca Parad; Kate Bushby; Michelle Eagle Journal: Neuromuscul Disord Date: 2013-05-28 Impact factor: 4.296