Isokinetic muscle function in children with a neuromuscular disease and healthy children

• Grant number: 22/16358-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Cláudia Mattiello-Sverzut
• Grantee: Noemi Biziaki Ansanello
• Supervisor: Bart Bartels
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Utrecht University (UU), Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/07546-8 - Reference values of isometric and isokinetic muscle function of elbow flexors and extenders in typical children and adolescents, BP.IC

Abstract

Muscle weakness and mobility loss are limiting factors in children's daily activities with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). To better understand the disease severity and to provide quality treatments, it is essential to study muscle function in children with NMD compared with their peers. This study aims to evaluate muscle performance in healthy children using gold-standard equipment (isokinetic dynamometer) by means of dynamic contractions of the elbow muscles. In parallel, we will compare both, i.e., the results of healthy children and those obtained in children with NMD (from the database of Dr. Bart Bartels), to verify the amount of difference between them. For this, 20 children with a confirmed diagnosis of neuromuscular disease, treated at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center in Utrecht (Netherlands) were evaluated and 20 healthy children invited from the Dutch community aged between 6 and 17 years will participate in the isokinetic evaluation. Before the tests, anthropometric data will be collected, such as body mass and height. Moreover, the dynamic contractions will be performed at 90 degrees per second to get closer to functional activities. (AU)