Usefulness of continuous actigraph monitoring in the assessment of the effect of corticosteroid treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a case report

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science Vol. 28; no. 11; pp. 3249 - 3251
• Main Authors: Shiba, Naoko, Nakamura, Akinori, Nishizawa, Hitomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2016
• Subjects: Actigraph; Case Study; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Motor function; Motor function; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Actigraph
• ISSN: 0915-5287; 2187-5626
• DOI: 10.1589/jpts.28.3249

[Purpose] This study evaluated the effect of corticosteroid treatment on the daily activity of a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy using an actigraph and examined whether this method produces the same results as the conventional motor-function evaluation methods. [Subject and Methods] A patient with 5 year-old Duchenne muscular dystrophy was recruited. An actigraph was attached to his waist to measure the energy expenditure and the number of steps taken by him during a period of two weeks, 14 days before and 14 days after corticosteroid administration. The outcomes of these measurements were compared with the results of conventional motor-function evaluation methods—the 10-m run test, 6-minute walk test, and North Star Ambulatory Assessment—on his next visit. [Results] The actigraph data for energy expenditure and the number of steps taken correlated well with the results of the above-mentioned conventional motor-function tests, and the value of each data point improved after corticosteroid administration. [Conclusion] An actigraph was effectively used to non-invasively measure consecutive daily activity for four weeks. It was easily done and the results were consistent with conventional motor-function evaluation methods.