Low-intensity Aerobic Exercises during COVID-19 Pandemic in Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Home based Study

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects about 0.8 million Indian children. The incidence rate of 1:3500 male births is the most common form of all muscular dystrophies. Covid-19 pandemic cause profound devastation to the lives of DMD children. The muscles are weaker in DMD, and the children are more prone to lung infections. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a severe lung infection that disturbs the entire function of the World. DMD already has weakness in major muscles, including the respiratory. So, the study aims to identify the effect of low-intensity aerobic exercises in children with DMD. This is a home-based pilot study with 11 DMD children and wheelchair dependent since, for ten years, they have been on continuous rehabilitation and monitoring. When the pandemic was declared in India in March 2020, all children were given clear notes on the disease and its severity to the parents. Self-created quarantine exercise protocol, which includes Limb exercises, breathing exercises, trunk mobility exercises, and positioning, was taught along with a logbook given to all the children. Video calls, and WhatsApp videos, were used to monitor them regularly. The physiotherapist made a personal visit in June 2020 to review the exercises, and subsequently on Aug 20, Oct 20, Dec 20, Feb 21, and May 21. Observations are detailed here. The infection rate was 3 out of 9, and they got admitted to the hospital for other illnesses. All the children noted Flu infection but recovered within ten days without hospitalization. The parents monitored their SPo2 and temperature and updated them in the logbook. A lung function test was done using a handheld incentive spirometer during the personnel visit by the therapist and found satisfactory. The study concluded a significant improvement in the DMD children following low-intensity and quarantine exercises.