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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
The effect of aerobic training on motor function and muscle architecture in children with Duchenne muscular
Numan Bulut1, Ayşe Karaduman2, İpek Alemdaroğlu-Gürbüz1
1Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, 37515Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Adding aerobic training to home exercise programs significantly improved motor function and walking distance in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy over 12 weeks. Muscle structure showed no significant changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders
- Exercise Physiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic disorder affecting muscle function.
- Home-based exercise programs are common, but their impact on motor function and muscle properties needs further investigation.
- Optimizing exercise interventions is crucial for managing DMD symptoms and improving quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of adding aerobic training to a home-based exercise program on motor function and muscle architecture in children with DMD.
- To evaluate changes in clinical measures and ultrasound-assessed muscle properties after a 12-week intervention.
Main Methods:
- A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted with children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- Participants were assigned to either a control group (home-based exercise) or a treatment group (home-based exercise plus 12-week aerobic training).
- Motor function was assessed using the Motor Function Measure (MFM) and Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT); muscle architectural properties were measured via ultrasound.
Main Results:
- The treatment group showed significant improvements in MFM total scores (p=0.006) and 6MWT distance (p<0.001) compared to the control group.
- No significant changes were observed in muscle thickness, pennation angle, or fascicle length in either group after 12 weeks.
- Baseline characteristics, including age, were similar between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Aerobic training, when added to home-based exercise, can enhance motor function and performance in children with DMD.
- The addition of aerobic training did not lead to significant alterations in muscle architectural properties within the study period.
- Aerobic exercise represents a potentially valuable adjunct therapy for improving functional outcomes in pediatric DMD patients.
Objective:
To explore the effects of aerobic training adding to home-based exercise program on motor function and muscle architectural properties in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Design:
This is a prospective randomized controlled study.
Setting:
Pediatric neuromuscular clinic in a tertiary care center.
Subjects:
Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Interventions:
Children were randomly divided into two groups whereby 12-weeks aerobic training was additionally given in treatment group in contrast to the control group which received only home-based exercise program.
Main Measures:
Motor Function Measure and Six Minute Walk Test were used for clinical evaluation, and muscle architectural properties (thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length) were measured by ultrasound imaging. Both groups were assessed at baseline and after 12-weeks of training.
Results:
Median age of children was 7.9 years in the treatment group and 8.6 years in the control group (p > 0.05). Significant improvements were obtained for Motor Function Measure and Six Minute Walk Test from baseline to 12-weeks in the treatment group; Motor Function Measure total score changed from 83.2 (6.1) to 86.9 (4.0) vs. 82.3 (10.2) to 80.4 (9.4) points in the control group (p = 0.006); 6 Minute Walk Test distance changed from 395.3 (46.6) to 413.0 (52.3) vs. 421.7 (64.4) to 393.8 (68.2) meters in the control group (p < 0.001). However, muscle architectural parameters did not change during study period (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Aerobic training may be of additional value in improving motor function and performance with no remarkable effect on muscle architectural properties.
