How Can Different Forms of Strengthening Exercises Affect the Muscular Tissue and Its Chemical Markers in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

strengthening exercises: Concentric strengthening exercises: involves the muscle producing tension and shortening to move a load Isometric strengthening exercises: occurs when a muscle produces tension without a change in muscle length. Isometric contractions involve sarcomere shortening and increasing muscle tension, but do not move a load Eccentric strengthening exercises: occurs when the muscle tension produced is less than the load and a muscle lengthens while under tension

Low-Intensity Exercise Protocol: The children were trained 3 times per week for 8 weeks on a treadmill without inclination, with speed and time programmed and adapted for this purpose. The length of each training activity was 30 min (Andersen et al. 2013; Markert et al. 2012). The children were acclimated to the treadmill for 7 days before the beginning of the training program, with a speed of 4 m/min, in order to minimize the stress caused by the different environment.

traditional physical therapy program: traditional physical therapy program to improve strength

Study summary

The treatment of patients diagnosed with DMD needs to be multidisciplinary, judicious, and always focused on the patient's well-being. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy are very often standard care. Physiotherapy is regarded as crucial for the success of treatment, since it has achieved good results in the short term, such as maintaining the autonomy of these individuals . Physical activity is another method that has been used to treat DMD. Studies have used physical exercise in individuals with DMD in order to decrease muscle deterioration, muscle contractures, and bone fractures, and to increase the time of functional independence

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Creatine-kinase (CK) — 8 weeks
• Six-minute walk test — 8 weeks
• Muscle strength — 8 weeks

Trial sites (1)

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