Effect of Aquatic Therapy on Ventilatory Functions in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives. To investigate the effect of aquatic therapy on ventilatory functions, and its impact on functional capabilities in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Subjects and Methods. Twenty-four boys with DMD were enrolled in this study, their ages ranged from seven to eleven years. They were randomly assigned into two groups of equal numbers; the land-based group received a designed land-based physical therapy program while the aquatic group received the same program underwater at the pool of the hydrotherapy unit. The treatment was conducted for all boys twice weekly for three successive months. A spirometer was used to measure the ventilatory functions including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC% ratio. Timed function tests (TFTs) including 10-m walk/run test, climb, or/descend 4 standard-size stairs test and, stand from a supine position test, followed by 6-min. walk test (6MWT) were used to assess the functional capability for both groups, before and after treatment. Results. Post-treatment findings, revealed no statistically significant differences in all variables (P > 0.05) except for FEV1/ FVC% ratio that showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001) in both groups. Conclusion. Aquatic therapy has no statistically significant effect on ventilatory functions and functional capabilities among boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.