Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Mobile Game-based Virtual Reality Program for Upper Extremity Stroke Rehabilitation
Published on: March 8, 2018
Effectiveness of a 5-Week Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation Program for Children With Duchenne and Becker Muscular
María Rosa Baeza-Barragán1,2, Maria Teresa Labajos Manzanares1, Mercedes Cristina Amaya-Álvarez1
1CTS-1071 Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
Insights
Virtual reality telerehabilitation improved the 6-minute walk test in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). This technology offers a viable alternative to conventional therapy, maintaining motor function and reducing fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Physical Therapy
- Rehabilitation Technology
Background:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are progressive neuromuscular disorders impacting mobility and quality of life.
- Virtual reality (VR) and telerehabilitation offer innovative approaches to physical therapy for these conditions, especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Maintaining physical abilities is crucial for children with DMD and BMD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a virtual platform in a multimodal intervention on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in children with DMD and BMD.
- To determine if telerehabilitation sessions alter 6MWT outcomes in pediatric patients with muscular dystrophy.
- To assess changes in other motor function scales following telerehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, open, quasi-experimental study with a prospective A-B design.
- 12 participants with DMD/BMD underwent 10 telerehabilitation sessions using VR over 5 weeks.
- In-person assessments before and after the intervention included the 6MWT, North Star Ambulatory Assessment, Timed Up and Go test, and Motor Function Measure.
Main Results:
- A significant increase of 19.55 meters was observed in the 6-minute walk test.
- Motor function remained stable across various assessment scales, with no significant differences.
- The Timed Up and Go test showed a slight improvement (0.1 seconds faster) in the telerehabilitation group, and perceived fatigue decreased by the end of sessions.
Conclusions:
- Telerehabilitation using VR demonstrated no detrimental effects compared to conventional therapy for children with DMD and BMD.
- VR-based telerehabilitation facilitates access to therapy and helps maintain functional capacity in pediatric muscular dystrophy patients.
- The learning effect associated with VR training contributed to reduced perceived fatigue during sessions, enhancing patient engagement.
Background:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are neuromuscular diseases. DMD is the most prevalent in children. It affects dystrophin production, reducing the patient's mobility and quality of life. New technologies have become a part of physical therapy in DMD and BMD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting telerehabilitation through virtual reality-based games could help these children maintain their physical abilities.
Objective:
This study examined if the use of a virtual platform in a multimodal intervention program changes the results of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in children with DMD and BMD. The main objective was to test whether children with DMD and BMD obtain different results on the 6MWT after completing 10 telerehabilitation treatment sessions. The secondary objective was to measure whether other specific motor scales also produce different results after the 10 defined sessions.
Methods:
This was a descriptive, open, and quasi-experimental study with a prospective A-B (control-intervention) design. A sample of 12 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria followed the program for 5 weeks with 10 telerehabilitation sessions. During the sessions, the participants used virtual reality glasses to train for the treatment goals. All participants were assessed in person before and after the intervention. Analysis was performed using R software according to the different functional assessments performed for each test.
Results:
The participants showed a 19.55-meter increase in the 6MWT. Motor function also remained stable according to other scales used to assess it. The North Start Ambulatory Assessment scores were stable in both treatment conditions (P=.20). Furthermore, the timed up and go test results were 0.1 seconds faster in the telerehabilitation condition, and the Motor Function Measure in all of the 3 dimensions showed no significant differences (P=.08). Finally, the Effort Perception Infant scale showed that during the training, fatigue increased in the middle and decreased by the end of the sessions, but the perception throughout the sessions was lower even as the exercise intensity increased.
Conclusions:
There were no differences between conventional and telerehabilitation treatments, so the telerehabilitation tool could be used without harming children with DMD and BMD, facilitating their access to therapies and stimulating learning to maintain their functional capacity. Therefore, telerehabilitation in general may be helpful in maintaining motor function in children with DMD and BMD. The learning effect helped reduce the feeling of fatigue in the children during the program.
More Related Videos
05:54A Rehabilitation Program of Exoskeleton-assisted Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training with Non-immersive Virtual Reality for Stroke Patients
Published on: May 16, 2025
04:49Author Spotlight: Enhancing Post-Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation with Robotic Technologies for Improved Motor Recovery and Functional Outcomes
Published on: September 6, 2024