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

Recruiting

• Conditions: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

• Registration Number: NCT06755138
• Lead Sponsor: Seoul National University Hospital

Brief Summary

* Objective:

The objective of this observational study is to evaluate and quantify trunk muscle compensatory movement patterns in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) using computer vision technology. Additionally, the study seeks to explore the relationship between these compensatory patterns and scoliosis, upper limb function, pain levels, and quality of life during functional upper limb movements.

* Key Research Questions:

1) Can trunk compensatory movement patterns be accurately measured using computer vision analysis? 2) Are these compensatory patterns correlated with scoliosis, upper limb function levels, pain, and quality of life? 3) Do these patterns and their correlations change over time?

* Methodology:

1. Participants: Patients diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will be recruited for this study.

2. Assessments:

* Scoliosis Evaluation:

1. Cobb angle measurement via X-ray imaging.

2. Upper Limb Function Assessment:

3. Performance of the Upper Limb Module 2.0 (PUL 2.0).

4. Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Classification Score.

5. Korean version of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Functional Ability Self-Assessment Tool (K-DMDSAT).

* Pain Measurement:

1. Korean version of the PainDETECT Questionnaire (KPD-Q).

2. Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.

3. Quality of Life Assessment:

* Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Quality of Life Questionnaire (DMD-QoL).

1. Trunk Compensation Analysis:

* Surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure muscle activation.

* Video analysis using computer vision to quantify trunk compensatory movement patterns.

* The following tasks will be evaluated using the dominant arm for sEMG and video analysis:

i. Pouring water into a cup. ii. Lifting a cup to drink water. iii. Grooming the front of the hair. iv. Moving small blocks within one minute (Box and Block Test). v. Reaching toward nearby objects in the front, left, and right directions.

* Front: Directly in front of the participant's line of sight.

* Left and right: Approximately 45 degrees to the left and right from the participant's front.

* Nearby objects: A water bottle or cup weighing approximately 250g, placed at arm's length.

vi. Reaching toward distant objects in the front, left, and right directions.

* Distant objects: A water bottle or cup weighing approximately 250g, placed at 1.5 times the participant's arm length.

* The sEMG attachment sites are as follows:

i. Muscles for assessing upper limb functional movements:

1. Deltoid

2. Pectoralis major

3. Trapezius

4. Biceps brachii ii. Muscles for assessing trunk compensatory actions:

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1. Sternocleidomastoid

2. Longissimus muscle

3. External oblique abdominal muscle

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Study Start: 2024-12-24
• Study First Submitted: 2024-12-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-12-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-24
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2026-07-31
• Study Completion: 2026-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Surface Electromyography (sEMG)	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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.
Computer Vision-Based Video Analysis	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Brooke Score	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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
Performance of the Upper Limb Module 2.0 (PUL 2.0)	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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.
Korean version of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Functional Ability Self-Assessment Tool (K-DMDSAT)	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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.
Korean version of the PainDETECT Questionnaire (KPD-Q)	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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
Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) Korean version	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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).
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Quality of Life Questionnaire (DMD-QoL)	enrollment, 6 months after, and 12 months after since the enrollment	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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Seoul National University Hospital; 🇰🇷 Seoul, Korea, Republic of