Jumping Mechanography is a Suitable Complementary Method to Assess Motor Function in Ambulatory Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Objective: The number of clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has increased substantially lately, therefore appropriate clinical instruments are needed to measure disease progression and drug efficacy. Jumping mechanography is a medical diagnostic method for motion analysis, which allows to quantify physical parameters. In this study, we compared mechanography with timed function tests (TFTs).

Methods: 41 ambulatory DMD patients performed a total of 95 chair rising tests (CRT) and a total of 76 single two-legged jumps (S2LJ) on a mechanography ground reaction force platform. The results were correlated with a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the time required to run 10 meters, stand up from a supine position, and climb four stairs, all performed in the same setting.

Results: Our measurements show a high correlation between mechanography and the TFTs: S2LJ/10-m run,  = 0.62; CRT/10-m run,  = 0.61; S2LJ/standing up from supine,  = 0.48; CRT/standing up from supine,  = 0.58; S2LJ/climb four stairs,  = 0.55; CRT/climb four stairs,  = 0.51. The correlation between mechanography and the 6MWT was only moderate with  = 0.38 for S2LJ/6MWT and  = 0.39 for CRT/6MWT.

Interpretation: Jumping mechanography is a reliable additional method, which can be used for physical endpoint measurements in clinical trials. We confirmed our assumption, that the method provides additional information concerning performance at movement with higher power output. We suggest using the S2LJ as a first-choice tandem tool combined with the 6MWT. In patients with higher disability, the CRT is an alternative measuring method, because with the progression of the disease this is longer feasible.