How often should manual muscle testing (MMT) be assessed in kids with Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

• A. Every Month
• B. Every 3 Months
• C. Every 6 Months
• D. Annually

Answer: (C)

Monitoring progression of muscle strength in Duchenne by serial manual muscle testing is about choosing a frequency that balances detectable change with test reliability. Duchenne progresses gradually, and meaningful shifts in strength often emerge over months rather than days. Testing every six months provides a reliable window to detect true decline while keeping the testing burden reasonable for children. If testing is done more often, day-to-day variability in effort, motivation, and growth can obscure real trends and may lead to misinterpretation or unnecessary adjustments. Waiting a full year risks missing early declines that could prompt timely changes in therapy or equipment. Therefore, assessing manual muscle testing every six months best captures meaningful changes in strength in kids with Duchenne.