Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of aquatic exercise on gross motor function, the Pediatric Balance Scale, and gait function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Method: The subjects consisted of six children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged between 6 and 12 years. They were randomly assigned to either an aquatic exercise group (n=3) or a control group (n=3). The aquatic exercise was performed twice a week, with each session lasting 30 minutes, over a total duration of 8 weeks. The program was adjusted every three weeks to accommodate varying levels of difficulty. Specifically, low-intensity exercises and stretching-focused aquatic activities were implemented to enhance motor functions and alleviate symptoms associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. After the 8-week intervention, assessments were conducted using the gross motor function, the Children’s Balance Scale, and the 10-Meter Walk Test. All variables were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U Test.
Results: First, there was an improvement in gross motor function in specific areas and overall scores within the aquatic exercise group, however, this improvement was not statistically significant. Second, there were significant differences in balance within the N, M areas, and total balance score, indicating the effectiveness of aquatic exercise in enhancing balance. Third, the aquatic exercise group demonstrated a significant reduction in time for the 10-meter walk test, confirming the positive impact of aquatic exercise on gait function.
Conclusion: Eight weeks of aquatic exercise led to improvements in balance and gait function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, though it did not significantly improve gross motor function. These results suggest that aquatic exercise may be an appropriate exercise treatment method for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who have deficits in balance and gait function. Future follow-up studies could yield more valuable insights if a larger cohort of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy participates and is compared with patients suffering from other types of muscular dystrophy or similar conditions.