Research on the Relationship Between Scoliosis, Pain, Quality of Life, and Trunk Muscle Compensation Patterns Among Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The purpose of using surface electromyography (sEMG) in this study is to measure and analyze the activation levels and patterns of trunk compensatory muscles during the performance of functional upper limb movements. This assessment aims to understand how trunk muscles compensate for upper limb movements, particularly in relation to task performance efficiency.

Videos are recorded simultaneously with surface electromyography (sEMG) while participants perform functional upper limb movements. Recordings are taken from two perspectives: the front view and the dominant arm side view, with synchronized matching of the videos. Video recording is conducted using a video camera mounted on a fixed tripod.

The recorded videos are analyzed using a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based body part detection model, producing skeleton-based outputs for movement analysis. The relative trunk motion of the participant is extracted as positional coordinates over time, which are further processed to calculate velocity, acceleration, and jerk. These time-series signals are analyzed for smoothness and sample entropy. By matching the movement data with corresponding sEMG signals, biomechanical compensatory parameters are identified and key compensatory features are derived. Comparative analyses with healthy controls are performed to validate these parameters.

The Brooke Score is a functional assessment tool specifically designed to evaluate upper limb abilities in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). An occupational therapist or physical therapist instructs participants to perform specific movements, and the assessment is based on the participant's ability to successfully complete these tasks.

The scale ranges from 1 to 6, with lower scores indicating better upper limb function

A functional scale specifically designed to evaluate upper limb abilities in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), assessed by an occupational or physical therapist. It consists of 22 items divided into three levels: shoulder level (6 items, maximum score 12), mid-level (9 items, maximum score 17), and distal level (7 items, maximum score 13), with a total possible score of 44. Each level is scored separately, and participants are instructed to perform specific tasks, with their performance evaluated accordingly.

A patient-reported outcome measure designed to evaluate and describe the functional status of individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) across the disease progression. It comprises four domains: arm function, walking, mobility, and respiratory support. Patients are asked to select the most difficult task they can still perform. The tool demonstrates excellent reliability, with inter-rater and test-retest reliability scores (ICC 0.958 and 0.987, respectively). Scoring ranges from 0-8 for arm function and walking, 0-10 for mobility, and 0-2 for respiratory support, with a total maximum score of 28.

A tool developed to assess neuropathic pain and is also applicable for evaluating other types of pain. It evaluates four domains: pain intensity, location, pattern, and radiating pain, with a total maximum score of 38. Based on the score, pain can be classified into nociceptive pain, unclear pain, or neuropathic pain categories

a self-reported tool designed to assess both the quality and intensity of subjective pain. It includes 11 adjectives describing the sensory aspects of pain and 4 adjectives related to its emotional impact. Participants also rate their current pain intensity on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 5 (worst possible pain) and indicate the overall intensity of their pain on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).

Specifically designed to reflect the unique needs and experiences of individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). It comprises 14 items across key domains, including physical health, emotional well-being, social functioning, school and academics, pain and symptom management, and independence and autonomy. Participants respond using a Likert scale to indicate the degree of agreement or frequency for each item. While the questionnaire is intended to be self-reported, caregivers or guardians may complete it on behalf of the patient if age or cognitive function limits independent completion.