Effectiveness of a multimodal tele-rehabilitation programme with virtual reality glasses in DMD and BMD boys during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study. (Preprint)

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BACKGROUND Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (from now "DMD" and "BMD" respectively) are the neuromuscular diseases with the most significant involvement in children. It affects dystrophin production, reducing the patient's mobility and quality of life. New technologies have become part of physical therapy in DMD and BMD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telerehabilitation through virtual reality-based games could help these children to keep their abilities. OBJECTIVE To estimate the difference in mobility in patients with DMD and BMD, as measured with the 6MWT test, between 10 conventional and telerehabilitation treatment sessions. METHODS Descriptive, open, quasi-experimental study with prospective A-B (control-intervention) design. Twelve participants who fulfilled the control criteria followed the program for five weeks, up to 10 telerehabilitation sessions. During the sessions, the participants used virtual reality glasses to train for the treatment goals. All sessions were in person, and participants were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS The participants showed a 19.55 m increase in the 6MWT scale. The motor function was also kept stable according to other scales used to assess it. Both families and children positively valued the programs. Furthermore, it does help us understand that conducting targeted training so that the children can carry out the test improves its results by decreasing the fatigue feeling throughout the sessions. CONCLUSIONS Telerehabilitation may helpful maintain motor function in children with DMD and BMD. The learning effect helped to reduce the feeling of fatigue in children during the program. CLINICALTRIAL Trial Registration: This trial has the approval of the Andalucía Ethics Committee with PEIBA code 0107-N-20. The results of the research will be disseminated by the investigators to peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration no. NCT03879304.

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