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Motor Imagery on Children With DMD on Gait and Balance Functions

Investigation of the Effect of Motor Imagery on Gait and Balance Functions in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05601986
Enrollment
34
Registered
2022-11-01
Start date
2022-12-16
Completion date
2024-12-01
Last updated
2024-02-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Keywords

Gait, Balance, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Brief summary

The most common muscular dystrophy among pediatric neuromuscular diseases is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). There is no consensus on a standardized physiotherapy and rehabilitation program or exercise prescription in DMD. Motor imagery (MI) is defined as visualizing motor activities in one's mind without performing any movement. There are studies examining the effectiveness of motor imagery in stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, peripheral facial paralysis, and phantom pain. This study is aimed to examine the effect of motor imagery on gait and balance functions in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Boys residing in Istanbul Turkey, between the ages of 5 and 12, with a diagnosis of DMD who have not lost their ability to ambulate independently will be included in the study. The included individuals will be divided into two groups due to randomization: Group A (Control Group Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Program) and Group B (Additional Motor Imagery Training to Intervention Group Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Program). While the physiotherapy and rehabilitation program is applied to the participants in Group A with 40-minute sessions on 2 non-consecutive days of the week for 8 weeks, the participants in Group B will receive an additional 25-30-minute motor imagery program to the physiotherapy and rehabilitation program. Participants were tested with Kinovea Gait Analysis, Timed Up and Go Test, 2 Minute Walking Test, Motor Function Rating Scale for Neuromuscular Diseases, timed performance tests, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale, Pediatric Fear of Fall Questionnaire (Ped-FOF) before and after the program. will be evaluated later. IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) statistical program version 22.0 will be used for statistical analysis. The conformity of the variables to the normal distribution will be determined by the Shapiro-Wilk Test. If the variables show normal distribution, the variation within the group will be analyzed with the Paired Sample T Test, if not, the Wilcoxon Test will be analyzed. In the comparison between groups, if the variables show normal distribution, it will be done with the Independent T Test in independent groups and the Mann Whitney U Test if they do not show normal distribution. Categorical data distributions will be evaluated with the Chi-square test. In all analyses, p\<0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Interventions

OTHERPhysiotherapy and Rehabilitation Program

The program will be held for 8 weeks, 2 days a week, with 40-minute sessions. Relaxation phase: Progressive relaxation. Stretching phase: Stretching exercises for the muscles of the gastrocnemius, hamstrings, hip flexors, hip adductors Strengthening phase: Isometric strengthening exercises for the tibialis anterior, quadriceps, hip extensors, and hip abductors muscles. Balance training phase: Two legs, one leg, balance with eyes open and eyes closed. Weight-bearing phase: Weight transfer to the front, back, and sides using the balance board.

OTHERAdditional Motor Imagery Training to Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Program

The program will be held for 8 weeks, 2 days a week, with 40-minute sessions. Relaxation phase, Stretching phase, Strengthening phase,Balance training phase and Weight-bearing phase. Additional to the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Program, the Additional Motor Imagery Training program will be carried out for 8 weeks, 2 days a week, in addition to the 40-minute physiotherapy and rehabilitation program, accompanied by 25-30 minutes of supervision. It will be conducted by the researcher on two non-consecutive days of the week, by making appropriate appointments for the participants. During the program, participants will be asked to be in a quiet room. Sessions will consist of 4 consecutive phases: video watching, relaxation, motor imagery, and return to the environment.

Sponsors

Gülsena Utku
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
5 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Have a physician-prescribed diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy * Not having any injury or surgical operation in the last 6 months * Being between Levels 1-5 (children who continue to ambulate independently) according to - Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Classification Modified Mini-Mental Test score \>27 * Having the level of cooperation to follow the physiotherapist's instructions * Volunteering to participate in research

Exclusion criteria

* Having severe contractures that interfere with functional activities * Level 6-10 (children not capable of independent ambulation) according to the Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Classification * To receive applications in addition to the physiotherapy and rehabilitation program or different from the physiotherapy and rehabilitation program

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
gait analysis3one week before the intervention and one week after the interventionChange from Baseline Systolic cadence
gait analysis1one week before the intervention and one week after the interventionChange from Baseline Stride length in meters
gait analysis2one week before the intervention and one week after the interventionChange from Baseline stride width in meters
gait analysis4one week before the intervention and one week after the interventionChange from Baseline walking speed in meters/second
balanceone week before the intervention and one week after the interventionChange from Baseline Pediatric Balance Scale in grades 0-56 points

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
muscle strength measurementone week before the intervention and one week after the interventionStrength measurements of lower extremity muscles

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Contacts

Primary ContactGülsena Utku Umut
gulsenautku@halic.edu.tr+905370664646

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026