PROFILES OF NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES - DESIGN OF THE PROTOCOL

The purpose of this 10-yr investigation was to develop comprehensive i mpairment and disability profiles of the clinical characteristics of s even neuromuscular diseases: spinal muscular atrophy, hereditary motor sensory neuropathy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker's muscular dy strophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle syndrome, and myotonic dystrophy. Based on the World Health Organization's clas sification of disablement, as applied to neuromuscular diseases, impai rment was evaluated by measurements of strength, range of motion, spin e deformity, cardiac and pulmonary function, and intellectual capacity . Disability was evaluated by measures of mobility and upper extremity function, cardiopulmonary adaptations, cardiac and pulmonary complica tions, and psychosocial adjustment.