Yoga as an Adjunctive Intervention for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aimed to explore and summarize the published evidence on yoga as an adjunctive intervention to standard rehabilitative care for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five databases - PubMed/MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest Health and Medicine Collection, Web of Science Core Collection, and CINAHL - using the terms "Duchenne muscular dystrophy" (or DMD) and "yoga." Studies were included if they (1) were published between January 2000 and December 2024; (2) involved participants with DMD; (3) examined yoga as an intervention; (4) were peer-reviewed; and (5) were published in English. We used a standardized data extraction form to capture study characteristics, including authorship, publication year, sample size, participant demographics, intervention details, outcome measures, and main results. We assessed study quality with the Modified Downs and Black Checklist (MDBC). Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Five were rated as having fair quality (MDBC score: 15-17/28), and one was rated as having poor quality (MDBC score: 3/28). Yoga interventions incorporated asanas (postures), dhyana (meditation), and pranayama (breathing practices). Outcome measures varied widely, encompassing mobility, self-care, comfort, heart rate variability, respiratory function, quality of life, and functional performance. Modest improvements were noted in pulmonary function and self-reported well-being; however, evidence remains limited and inconsistent. Current literature provides preliminary support for yoga as a complementary therapy in DMD rehabilitation. More rigorous, large-scale trials are needed to establish their efficacy and clinical relevance.