Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
Muscle Nerve. 2024 Jul;70(1):82-93. doi: 10.1002/mus.28084. Epub 2024 Apr 1.
INTRODUCTION/AIMS: The utilization of virtual reality (VR) and biofeedback training, while effective in diverse populations, remains limited in the treatment of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (D/BMD). This study aimed to determine the feasibility of VR in children with D/BMD and compare the effectiveness of VR and biofeedback in children with D/BMD.
The study included 25 children with D/BMD. Eight children in the control group participated in a routine follow-up rehabilitation program, while the remaining children were randomly assigned to the VR (n = 9) and biofeedback (n = 8) groups for a 12-week intervention. The following evaluations were performed before, during (week 6), and after treatment: Muscle pain and cramps, laboratory studies, muscle strength, timed performance, function (Motor Function Measurement Scale-32, Vignos, and Brooke Scales), and balance (Pediatric Functional Reach Test and Balance Master System). Motivation for rehabilitation was determined.
The median ages were 9.00 (VR), 8.75 (biofeedback), and 7.00 (control) years. The study found no significant differences between groups in pretreatment assessments for most measures, except for tandem step width (p < .05). VR and biofeedback interventions significantly improved various aspects (pain intensity, cramp frequency, cramp severity, muscle strength, timed performance, functional level, and balance) in children with D/BMD (p < .05), while the conventional rehabilitation program maintained patients' current status without any changes. The study found VR and biofeedback equally effective, with VR maintaining children's motivation for rehabilitation longer (p < .05).
The study showed that both VR and biofeedback appear to be effective for rehabilitation this population, but additional, larger studies are needed.
简介/目的：虚拟现实 (VR) 和生物反馈训练在不同人群中虽然有效，但在治疗杜氏肌营养不良症和贝克肌营养不良症 (D/BMD) 方面仍受到限制。本研究旨在确定 VR 在 D/BMD 儿童中的可行性，并比较 VR 和生物反馈在 D/BMD 儿童中的效果。
该研究纳入了 25 名 D/BMD 儿童。对照组的 8 名儿童参加了常规的随访康复计划，而其余儿童则随机分为 VR（n=9）和生物反馈（n=8）组进行为期 12 周的干预。在治疗前、治疗期间（第 6 周）和治疗后进行了以下评估：肌肉疼痛和痉挛、实验室研究、肌肉力量、计时表现、功能（运动功能测量量表-32、Vignos 和 Brooke 量表）和平衡（小儿功能伸展测试和平衡大师系统）。评估了康复的动机。
VR、生物反馈和对照组的中位数年龄分别为 9.00 岁、8.75 岁和 7.00 岁。除了并足站立的步宽（p<0.05）外，研究未发现治疗前评估时大多数指标在组间存在显著差异。VR 和生物反馈干预显著改善了 D/BMD 儿童的各种方面（疼痛强度、痉挛频率、痉挛严重程度、肌肉力量、计时表现、功能水平和平衡）（p<0.05），而常规康复计划保持了患者的现状而没有任何变化。研究发现 VR 和生物反馈同样有效，VR 使儿童对康复的动机保持更久（p<0.05）。
该研究表明，VR 和生物反馈似乎对该人群的康复都有效，但需要进一步开展更大规模的研究。
