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Updated: Jul 6, 2025
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Family Involvement and at-Home Physical Therapy on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Andrea Hernández-Sánchez1, Lidia Parra-Sánchez2, Marisol Montolio3
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physical Therapy and Medicine, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
Insights
Adding an at-home physical therapy program to conventional treatment helped maintain better motor function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Family involvement in the at-home program is key for DMD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder causing progressive muscle weakness from early childhood.
- Physical therapy is crucial for managing musculoskeletal and respiratory complications in DMD.
- This study investigates the impact of supplementary at-home physical therapy on DMD patients' motor function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating an at-home physical therapy program alongside conventional therapy for children with DMD.
- To assess the impact on overall motor function and specific functional measures.
Main Methods:
- A one-year randomized controlled trial was conducted.
- Participants were divided into two groups: conventional physical therapy and conventional plus at-home physical therapy.
- Motor function was assessed using the Motor Function Measure (MFM) scale, Vignos and Brooke scales, Timed-up-and-Go test, and six-minute walk distance test.
Main Results:
- Twenty-seven children with DMD participated.
- The group receiving at-home and conventional physical therapy showed maintained motor function at distal and global levels, as indicated by the MFM scale (P < 0.05).
- No statistically significant changes were observed in other measured variables.
Conclusions:
- Complementing conventional physical therapy with a family-involved at-home program can help maintain better motor function in children with DMD.
- This approach highlights the importance of integrating home-based exercises and family participation in the rehabilitation of DMD.
- Further research may explore long-term effects and adherence strategies.
Background:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and begins in early childhood. To treat its complications, the rehabilitation program includes physical therapy, mainly on the musculoskeletal and the respiratory complications that appear on the evolution of the disease. This study aims to explore the effects of physical therapy with or without an at-home program on motor function among children with DMD.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was carried out for one year (one group with at-home and conventional physical therapy and another with conventional physical therapy). Motor function was measured using the Motor Function Measure (MFM) scale, the Vignos and Brooke scales, the Timed-up-and-Go test, and the six-minute walk distance test.
Results:
Twenty-seven participants with DMD participated in this study. In the at-home and conventional physical therapy group, better motor function at the distal and global level was maintained, per the results of the MFM scale (P < 0.05). The rest of the variables did not achieve statistically significant changes.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that complementing conventional treatment with at-home treatment in which the family is involved maintains better motor function, in participants with DMD.
