• Matthew F Jacques, Rachel C Stockley, Gladys L Onambele-Pearson, Neil D Reeves, Georgina K Stebbings, Ellen A Dawson, Lynne Groves, and Christopher I Morse.
• Musculoskeletal Science & Sports Medicine Research Centre, School of Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK. Matthew.Jacques@stu.mmu.ac.uk.
• Health Qual Life Out. 2019 Jul 15; 17 (1): 121.

BackgroundMuscle weakness is a defining characteristic of Muscular Dystrophy (MD); however, yet while speculated, objective measures of muscle weakness has not been reported in relation to quality of life in adults with MD.Objectives1) compare the self-reported QoL of adults with Duchenne MD (DMD), Beckers MD (BMD), Limb-Girdle MD (LGMD) and Fascioscapulohumeral MD (FSHD, and a non-MD (CTRL) group; 2) present and compare between groups measures of Impairment (Muscle Strength and Activities of Daily Living) and Perception (Fatigue, Pain and Self-Efficacy); and 3) identify associations between QoL domains and measures of Impairment and Perception (See above).MethodsSeventy-Five males, including MD classifications DMD, BMD, LGMD, FSHD and CTRL, completed measures for QoL, Knee-Extension Maximal Voluntary Contraction (KEMVC), Fatigue, Pain, Self-Efficacy and Activities of Daily Living (ADL).ResultsQoL was lower across many domains in MD than CTRL. FSHD scored lower than DMD for mental wellbeing domains. KEMVC associated with Physical-Function domain for BMD. Pain, Self-Efficacy and ADLs associated with QoL domains, with Fatigue the most consistently associated.ConclusionThe present study identified differences between MD classifications within self-perceptions of mental-health. Muscle weakness is a defining feature of MD; however, it doesn't define QoL in adults with MD. A greater understanding of mental wellbeing, independence, and management of fatigue and pain, are required to improve QoL for adults with MD.

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