Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder affecting many males in India, necessitating a multidirectional management approach focused on enhancing the quality of life. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in management; however, there is a lack of recommended exercises for DMD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of low-intensity aerobic exercises on physical activity and lung function in children with DMD. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 66 DMD children. The participants were divided into three groups: Group I received low-intensity aerobic exercises, Group II performed a range of motion exercises, and Group III underwent conventional exercises. All groups followed a 60-minute exercise regimen, and each child received a home program. The study spanned ten weeks. Result: The data collected included physical activity assessments using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and lung function measurements utilizing spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/VC). Assessments were conducted at baseline, after 10 weeks, and at the 20th week. Parametric tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed for data analysis. Discussion: The results demonstrated significant improvements in physical activity and lung function after the intervention. The PAQ-C analysis yielded a Kruskal-Wallis test statistic of 39.65 (p < 0.001), indicating significant differences among the groups. Repeated measures ANOVA analysis showed significant improvements in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC with F values of 252.945, 31.43, and 78.35, respectively. Conclusion: Compared to the range of motion and conventional exercises, low-intensity aerobic exercises yielded superior results. Therefore, incorporating low-intensity aerobic exercises into managing Duchenne muscular dystrophy could be beneficial.
Keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Low-intensity aerobic exercises, Range of motion exercises, Physical training in children, Lung functions.