Effectiveness of aquatic therapy on balance and functionality in children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy : a prospective controlled pilot study
Developmental Neurorehabilitation, cilt.28, sa.8, ss.296-303, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 28 Sayı: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/17518423.2026.2624412
- Dergi Adı: Developmental Neurorehabilitation
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.296-303
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Aquatic therapy, balance, functionality, muscular dystrophy
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: To investigate the effects of combining aquatic therapy with a home exercise program on balance, functionality, and quality of life in children with DMD/BMD, compared with a home exercise program alone. Methods: Sixteen patients aged 5–18 years with DMD/BMD were included. Those at the top of the waiting list were assigned to the intervention group (n = 8), and those further down to the control group (n = 8). The intervention group received 30-minute Halliwick-based aquatic therapy three times per week for five weeks in a 30°C pool, in addition to a home exercise program. The control group performed a home exercise program alone while awaiting aquatic therapy. The home exercise program consisted of joint range-of-motion and stretching exercises only (30 minutes/day, five days/week). Exercises were performed under caregiver supervision, and adherence was assessed by caregiver report and investigator questioning. Outcomes assessed at baseline and week 5 included weekly fall frequency, balance (Pediatric Berg Balance Scale; Functional Reach Test), activity (ACTIVLIM), physical performance (10-m walk; 4-step tests), quality of life (PedsQL Neuromuscular Module), and muscle strength (manual muscle testing) and joint range of motion. Results: Significant improvements in balance, activity, physical performance, and quality of life were observed in the intervention group, alongside a reduction in weekly fall frequency (p <.05). In the control group, the only significant change was increased forward reach distance in the Functional Reach Test (p <.05). Between-group comparisons showed greater gains in balance, functionality, and quality-of-life scores in the intervention group (p <.01). Hip extensor strength increased significantly only in the intervention group. No adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Combining aquatic therapy with a home exercise program was safe and well tolerated and was associated with greater short-term improvements in balance, functionality, and quality of life than a home exercise program alone, with reduced fall frequency over five weeks. These findings support integrating aquatic therapy into DMD/BMD management and justify larger randomized controlled trials to confirm efficacy and guide optimal regimens. Clinical trial registration number: NCT06186310.