Jumping Mechanography as a Complementary Testing Tool for Motor Function in Children with Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy

Objective  This study aims to compare mechanography, measuring force in jumping, and rising, with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and time function tests in pediatric patients with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies. Methods  A cohort of 23 patients performed the 6MWT and time function tests (time to run 10 m, to rise from a supine position, and to climb four stairs), as well as the chair rising test (CRT) and the single two-legged jump (S2LJ) on a mechanography ground reaction force platform. Results were correlated calculating linear regression. Results  Correlation revealed high or moderate correlation between mechanography and the 6MWT and the time function tests: S2LJ/6MWT = 0.64; CRT/6MWT = 0.52; S2LJ/rising from floor = 0.63; CRT/rising from floor = 0.67; S2LJ/10 m run = 0.74; CRT/10 m run = 0.66; S2LJ/climb four stairs = 0.56; CRT/climb four stairs = 0.47. Conclusion  Jumping mechanography is a good additional tool for the assessment of pediatric patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and might be used for primary outcome measures. It was not feasible in more advanced stages of the disease. In less disabled children, the S2LJ, which quantifies force generated by proximal and distal muscles, might be superior to other tests.