Family Involvement and at-Home Physical Therapy on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Children; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Family involvement; Motor function; Physical therapy.