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. 2016 fall;28(3):320-9.
doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000251.

Supported Standing in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Elise L Townsend  1 , Christine Bibeau, Tara M Holmes
Affiliations

Supported Standing in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Elise L Townsend et al. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2016 fall.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of supported standing in a small sample of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: Four 12- to 15-year-old boys with DMD engaged in a home-based supported standing program for 6 to 12 months. A single-subject design was employed to examine muscle length. Bone mineral density was assessed at 4-month intervals using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Results: Upright, sustained supported standing was tolerated in 3 of the 4 boys. Mean weekly stand times ranged from 1.3 to 3.3 hours. Improved hip or knee flexor muscle length was seen in 3 of the 4 boys. No boys showed improved plantar flexor muscle length or increased lumbar bone mineral density.

Conclusions: Findings offer preliminary empirical evidence addressing the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of standing in boys with DMD. Additional research with an emphasis on better program adherence is indicated.

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Conflict of interest statement

These authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Typical standing position of participants (P1–P4).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Muscle length of hip flexor, knee flexor, and ankle plantar flexor muscles. Baseline, intervention and withdrawal phases are separated by vertical lines. Two standard deviation (SD) bands above and below baseline means (solid horizontal line) are delineated by dotted horizontal lines. Two consecutive data points outside a 2 SD band during the intervention phase indicate statistically significant change from baseline.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Bone mineral density (g/cm2) for baseline, intervention, and withdrawal phases. Curves represent ±2 SD from age and sex predicted mean.
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