Effects of Posture and Quality of Life in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Children

NCT07436143 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/M. HassanTahir
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 33
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder predominantly affecting boys and men, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 3,800 to 1 in 6,200 live male births. This condition leads to progressive muscle weakness due to the absence of the dystrophin protein, which is essential for maintaining muscle cell integrity. Symptoms and functional impairments typically become apparent by the age of two, and individuals with DMD have an average life expectancy of around 28 years. Treatment is generally multifaceted, focusing on enhancing quality of life (QOL) and postural control. The Alexander technique is employed to improve QOL and postural tone, as well as to modify body schema, with reported benefits from these changes. This method leverages spatial attention and executive functions that influence basic motor skills through targeted attention, intention, and haptic communication, thereby enhancing the QOL and postural control of the upper limbs. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of Alexander's technique on postural control of upper limb and quality of life in children with duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Conditions

Child, Only

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postural Control of Upper Limb

  Upper limb postural control will be assessed using the Postural Control of the Upper Limb (POUL) scale. The tool evaluates scapular alignment, shoulder stability, elbow control, wrist posture, and hand positioning during functional tasks. Higher scores indicate better postural control.

  3 months

Study Arms (2)

Group A, Alexander Technique Protocol Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will perform routine physical therapy exercises in addition with Alexander technique exercise. The routine exercises will consist of gentle stretching and strengthening exercise. 40 mins program consist of 12 training sessions, 2 per week.

Other: Alexander Technique Program

Group B, Routine Protocol Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will perform routine physical therapy exercises only. The routine exercises will consist of gentle stretching and strengthening exercise. 40 mins program consist of 12 training sessions, 2 per week.

Other: Alexander Technique Program

Interventions

Alexander Technique Program OTHER

Alexander technique involves postural and proprioceptive re-education and focuse on teaches the correct use of postural mechanism, coordination of trunk and head as a core relationship for good movement. In DMD neck muscles are compromised due to less amount of dystrophin and adopt bad posture of neck which decrease postural control and QOL. Through this technique participants will complete 12 training sessions within 6 weeks (2 per week) of 40 mins. Will examining body habits and patterns during various activities (5 min). Teaching and applying the basic principles of Alexander technique, including inhibition, primary control, and direction in various activities, such as sitting, standing, walking, studying, and lifting objects using tactile and verbal feedback (30 min). These exercises will perform to improve the neck, shoulder and upper limb muscles for strengthening and improve to upper limb postural control and quality of life.

Also known as: Routine Physical Therapy technique

Group A, Alexander Technique Protocol Group; Group B, Routine Protocol Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 9 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder predominantly affecting boys and men, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 3,800 to 1 in 6,200 live male births. This condition leads to progressive muscle weakness due to the absence of the dystrophin protein, which is essential for maintaining muscle cell integrity.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children suffering from duchenne muscular dystrophy,age between 5 to 9

You may not qualify if:

• Children with metabolic disorder
• Children with accidental disorder
• Children with recent of surgery
• Children with mentally retard

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Psrd Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Duan D, Goemans N, Takeda S, Mercuri E, Aartsma-Rus A. Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Feb 18;7(1):13. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00248-3.

  PMID: 33602943 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Muhammad Hassan Tahir, MS-PT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

IMRAN AMJAD, PHD

CONTACT

9233224390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Muhammad Asif Javed, MS-PT

CONTACT

923224209422; a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will get separate treatment protocols and possible efforts will be put to mask the both groups about the treatment
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The current study will be randomized control trial, data will be collected from Pakistan society for the Rehabilitation of Disabled, Lahore (PSRD). Then study will include 33 patients equally divided into two groups and randomly allocated. Inclusion criteria for the study will be children with duchenne muscular dystrophy patient with age between 5 to 9 yrs with either gender. Patients with any metabolic disorder, other accidental disorder, recent history of surgery, psychiatric disorder will be excluded from the study. Experimental group will perform both Alexander's technique and routine physical therapy (RPT), Control group will perform routine physical therapy. Outcomes to be analyzed will be posture control of upper limb and quality of life. Data collection will be done before and after the intervention. Tools used for data collection will be PUL 2.0 for DMD for posture control of upper limb and PedsQL 4.0 for DMD-QOL for assessment of quality of life.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: October 27, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 25, 2026
• Study Completion: February 28, 2026
• Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)