Whole-body Vibration Versus Gravity Force Stimulation on Postural Stability in Children With Duchene Muscular Dystrophy

August 20, 2026 updated by: Mostafa S Ali, Cairo University
this study aimed to mention Does whole-body vibration training or gravity-force stimulation produce greater improvements in postural stability among children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive X-linked neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle fiber degeneration due to mutations in the dystrophin gene (Birnkrant et al., 2018). As muscle weakness advances, children with DMD experience impaired postural control, reduced balance function, and increased risk of falls, all of which significantly contribute to limitations in daily activities and loss of independence (Ricotti et al., 2016). Early therapeutic interventions are essential to slow functional decline and promote motor stability for as long as possible.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has emerged as a potential modality to enhance neuromuscular activation, proprioception, and balance in individuals with muscle weakness or neurological impairments. Studies suggest that low-frequency WBV can improve muscle spindle sensitivity, postural reactions, and balance performance in pediatric and neuromuscular populations (Brunetti et al., 2015; Saquetto et al., 2015). Although research involving children with DMD is limited, preliminary evidence indicates that WBV may transiently enhance motor function without excessive muscle strain.

Gravity-force stimulation (GFS)-often delivered through tilt platforms, vertical acceleration devices, or graded gravitational loading-has been proposed as another means to stimulate proprioceptive pathways and increase postural control. GFS can enhance sensory input from weight-bearing structures and may promote improved equilibrium response strategies in children with neuromotor impairments (Bates & Hanson, 2019). However, its application specifically in DMD remains under-studied, and direct comparisons with WBV have not been adequately explored.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

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
    • Giza Governorate
      • Giza, Giza Governorate, 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

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
  • Age between 6 and 10 years.
  • Lower extremity and trunk muscle strength graded at least 3+, based on the manual muscle testing criteria.
  • Ability to move the upper and lower limbs within functional limits without severe joint restriction.
  • Ability to walk independently without assistive devices, corresponding to Levels I and II of the Ambulation Function Classification System for DMD (AFCSD).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of cardiopulmonary dysfunction or congenital or acquired skeletal abnormalities that may interfere with participation.
  • History of lower-limb surgical procedures.
  • Neurological conditions affecting balance or gait, or evidence of poor motor development not attributable to DMD.
  • Behavioral disorders that would prevent cooperation during assessment or intervention sessions.
  • Overweight status, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m²

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: whole body vibration group
whole body vibration intervention
Procedure: whole body vibration
we use vibrating platform •
Experimental: force gravity stimulation group
force gravity stimulation intervention
Procedure: force gravity stimulation

Thirty children received:

• Gravity-Force Stimulation (GFS), which included:

  • Exercises will be designed to enhance postural control and trunk stability while exposed to controlled gravitational loading.
  • Active or active-assisted stabilization exercises performed while experiencing graded gravitational forces.
  • Arm exercises performed with the trunk stabilized to challenge neuromuscular control under increased gravitational demand.
  • Trunk mobilization exercises (in sitting and lying positions) performed under conditions simulating increased gravitational load.
  • Functional reaching activities with varied ranges of shoulder elevation, supported by the physiotherapist to ensure proper control during gravitational stimulation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
abdominal muscle thickness
Time Frame: 3 months
measure the abdominal muscle thickness
3 months
postural stability
Time Frame: 3 months
• BIODEX MEDICAL SYSTEM used for assessment of postural stability and balance
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Cairo University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mostafa S. Ali, 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 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 15, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

August 10, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 20, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 20, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • P.T.REC/012/006366

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.

Subscribe