Virtual Reality and Whole Body Vibration on Muscle Strength and Balance in Children With DMD

January 4, 2026 updated by: Mostafa S Ali, Cairo University

Efficacy of Virtual Reality and Whole Body Vibration on Muscle Strength and Balance in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

we measure balance and quadriceps strength in Duchenne muscular dystrophy children after applying virtual reality and whole body vibration

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Two groups of fifty children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged 6 to 10, were randomly assigned after being selected from the outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University. Both groups (A and B) participated in physical treatment for three consecutive months; group (A) had designed physical therapy in addition to virtual reality, whereas group (B) had the same physical therapy program with whole-body vibration three times per week.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt, 11432
        • Cairo university
      • Giza, Egypt, 11432
        • Cairo university

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • children diagnosed with DMD
  • aged between 6 and 10 years
  • having lower extremities and trunk muscle strength of grade 3+
  • were able to move their upper and lower limbs normally and being able to walk unhindered at levels I and II of the Ambulation function classification system for DMD (AFCSD)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • cardiopulmonary dysfunction or skeletal abnormalities that are either congenital or acquired
  • had previously experienced lower limb surgical procedure
  • had neurological conditions that affected their balance and gait or had poor motor development
  • exhibited behavioural disorders preventing them from cooperating during the trial
  • being overweight (body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/ m2) because a lot of fat makes it hard for the ultrasound to measure thickness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: virtual reality
group (A) had designed physical therapy in addition to virtual reality
Device: virtual reality
Group (A) had designed physical therapy in form of Warm up with gentle stretching movements to prevent injuries. The lower limb muscles on both sides were stretched for 20 seconds, followed by 20 seconds of relaxation, five times. The quadriceps, hamstrings, anterior tibial group, calf muscles, biceps, and triceps were also contracted isometrically. Every muscle contraction was held for 5 seconds, followed by 5 seconds of relaxation, and the process was repeated five times in addition to virtual reality inform of VR program. Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board (Nintendo, Kyoto, Japan) was used to perform the exercises. In each session, VR was used for a total of 10 minutes three times per week for three consecutive months.
Experimental: whole-body vibration
group (B) had the same physical therapy program with whole-body vibration
Device: whole body vibration
Group (B) had the same physical therapy program with WBV (Power Plate Pro 5) for a total of 10 minutes per session. The apparatus was set at 30 Hz frequency, 2 mm amplitude, and 5 minutes of operating time. The children were squatted down completely on a vibrating, side-alternating platform and were told to stay that way throughout the experience, communicating any pain they felt to the researchers. The vibration feature automatically shuts off after 5 minutes. After that, the children took a one-minute break. Then, with the same settings as those used in the squatting position, children stood on the vibration platform for 5 minutes. In each session, WBV was used for a total of 10 minutes three times per week for three consecutive months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
balance
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Biodex Balance System (BBS) (BSS; Biodex, Inc, Shirley, NY) was used to evaluate each child's dynamic balance. It is a multiaxial tool that records and evaluates a person's capacity to maintain joint stability under dynamic stress. The BBS uses a circular platform that can move concurrently in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral axes, unlike force plate technologies.
12 weeks
quadriceps muscle strength
Time Frame: 12 weeks
The Lafayette Manual Muscle Tester (MMT) Model Number 01163 combines accuracy and precision with contemporary ergonomic design to generate exact, impartial, and reliable results. The three replaceable, cushioned stirrups made it possible to employ established methods with assurance and effectiveness while preserving patient comfort
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Cairo University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 11, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 20, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

October 12, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 4, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • P.T.REC/012/006030

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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