BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Upper-extremity proprioception contributes to coordinated reaching and grasping, which are critical for functional independence; however, evidence on upper-limb proprioception in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to compare wrist proprioception in children with DMD versus healthy peers and to examine its relationship with upper-limb function. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study conducted at a pediatric neuromuscular clinic, enrolling children aged 6-15 years who were able to sit independently. Wrist proprioception at 45° flexion was assessed using verbal description, position verification, and ipsilateral/contralateral matching under two conditions (eyes open and eyes closed). Absolute angular error was calculated for each condition, and the open - closed difference was derived as the within-subject change between conditions; angles were measured using a goniometer. Secondary outcomes included elbow/wrist ROM limitation, grip strength, PUL 2.0, ABILHAND-Kids, and ACTIVLIM. RESULTS: = .002-0.004). DISCUSSION: Children with DMD exhibit wrist proprioceptive deficits that are associated with joint ROM limitations and with measures of upper-limb performance and participation, supporting the inclusion of proprioceptive assessment in rehabilitation planning to help maintain distal function.
Koç et al. (Wed,) studied this question.