Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation on Pulmonary Function in Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Pre-Post Intervention Study
-
Priyanka Gupta
,
Seveka Bali
,
Amrit Pal Singh Sood
,
Amit Kumar Mital
,
Priyanka Choudhary
,
Sudhansu Sekhar Baral
,
Somya Saxena
,
Rita Upadhyay
,
Renu Suthar
Abstract
Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to progressive muscle weakness. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of telerehabilitation in improving pulmonary function in patients with DMD.
Materials and Methods: An interventional study was conducted among boys aged 5-12 years with DMD enrolled in the Pediatric Neurology Clinic from September 2023 to February 2024. Telemedicine-based respiratory exercises were explained to patients and their parents every 15 days for a 3-month period, and the patients were encouraged to exercise for at least 5 days a week. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), were recorded before and after the intervention.
Results: A total of 67 children participated in the study. There was significant improvement in FVC (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.93) and FEV1 (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.06). The FEV1/FVC ratio, a parameter that can be elevated in restrictive diseases, was also significantly decreased (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=-0.63). For a one-unit increase in age, the FVC change after intervention was predicted to decrease significantly by 0.24 units, holding other variables constant.
Conclusion: Telemedicine-based pulmonary rehabilitation for 3 months markedly improved pulmonary function, indicating that this intervention is effective in improving pulmonary function in patients with DMD, with greater effectiveness when initiated at an early age.
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| Issue | Vol 20 No 2 (2026) | |
| Section | Research Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v20i2.21711 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Telerehabilitation Duchenne muscular dystrophy Spirometry Breathing exercises Pulmonary function tests | ||
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