Matt is 13 years old. Matt is still doing very well for his age. He
can no longer walk. However, Matt uses the Quickie
S-525 power chair from Sunrise Medical to get around. In addition, Matt's spine has not developed a major curvature, scolosis, yet. Matt's MDA doctor is Dr. Goldstein in Atlanta.
When he could still walk, we used the GSCG test to measure Matt's progression of DMD.
Since Matt no longer walks his score would be the max, 100. However, I will
keep this page up in case anyone wants to use the GSCG. GSCG stands for Gait,
Stairs climbing, standing from a Chair,
and Gower’s testing. The test gives a timed score and
subjective score of ability to perform the test for each test item. The
test of gait evaluates the boys ability to run a distance of 33 feet.
Stair climbing is measured over four steps. Chair testing determines the
ability and speed to raise from a seated position in a chair to fully
standing. Finally, Gowers test the ability and time to get up from the
floor to standing. The index is from 0 to 100, with 0 being a normal
child and 100 meaning the boy could not complete the four tasks in the
alotted timeframe for each test item.Note that there use to be an
excellent source for this test on the web but it has been taken off.
Therefore, I will put the formula and test material below for everyone's
use.
Below is the table of scores for the GSCG. You read down each column
to find the best description of how your son has progressed on that test;
then read accross for the score for that test. For example, say on the
Gowers test he has to use both hands on the floor and then both hand on
his thighs to stand straight up you would go down the Gowers column to
"both hands thigh" and read a score of 5 for Gowers Score in
the formula below the table
Score
|
Gait
|
Stair
|
Chair
|
Gowers
|
1
|
Normal
|
Normal
|
Normal
|
Normal
|
2
|
Slightly Waddling
|
One hand Thigh
|
no Support
|
butt 1st one hand on floor
|
3
|
Mildly waddling
|
both hands thigh
|
one hand thigh or chair
|
both hands floor
|
4
|
severe waddle
|
one hand rail
|
both hands
|
one hand thigh
|
5
|
barely walking
|
both hands rail
|
help from table
|
both hands thigh
|
6
|
only stands
|
only climbs few steps
|
unable
|
with help other object
|
7
|
Wheelchair
|
unable
|
unable
|
unable
|
Formula GSCG=[{(Gait score + Gait time/40)+(Stair Score + Stair time/50)+(Chair
Score + Chair time/30) + (Gower Score+Gower Time/50)-4}/23]*100
Below is a table of Matt's scores.
Date
|
Gait
Score
|
Gait
Time
|
Stairs
Score
|
Stairs
Time
|
Chair
Score
|
Chair
Time
|
Gowers
Score
|
Gowers
Time
|
Score
|
09/04/96
|
2
|
10
|
2
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
23.81
|
12/14/96
|
3
|
9
|
2
|
8
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
8
|
33.38
|
05/26/97
|
3
|
8
|
2
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
28.2
|
08/24/97
|
3
|
8
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
36.8
|
08/31/97
|
3
|
7
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
36.6
|
09/07/97
|
3
|
7
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
36.6
|
09/14/97
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
36.2
|
09/28/97
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
36.5
|
10/12/97
|
3
|
7
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
36.6
|
01/04/98
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
36.4
|
03/28/98
|
3
|
8
|
2
|
7
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
41.01
|
08/09/98
|
3
|
10
|
4
|
10
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
55.1
|
05/02/99
|
3
|
12
|
4
|
13
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
55.6
|
10/10/99
|
3
|
14
|
4
|
20
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
12
|
56.7
|
03/25/00
|
4
|
16
|
5
|
28
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
18
|
71.4
|
07/16/00
|
4
|
18
|
5
|
28
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
19
|
71.9
|
06/2/01
|
5
|
20
|
7
|
0
|
5
|
20
|
7
|
0
|
92
|
|
Below is a graph of Matt's GSCG Index Scores:
|