Hydrotherapy in DMD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hydrotherapy for health in boys and adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
IRAS ID
304633
Contact name
Christian De Goede
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The quality of life in young males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is negatively impacted by daily pain, changes in body composition and a lack of support to undertake physical activity. Hydrotherapy represents a potential means of involving boys and adolescents with DMD in activity that could benefit the negative factors influencing their quality of life. We seek support to complete two project goals:
1) to allocate a clinical physiotherapist to a project implementing hydrotherapy in young males with DMD to establish whether there are meaningful benefits to their daily life.
2) to conduct patient and parent interviews to understand the barriers to completing a hydrotherapy intervention and ensure our future research addresses meaningful outcomes for those with DMD.
There are presently no guidelines or evidence for the benefits of hydrotherapy with the standards of care for young males with DMD. We are looking to provide evidence that will allow care providers to advocate the use of hydrotherapy within the management of DMD, as an inclusive activity, that can be adopted by those with DMD who are either ambulatory, or non-ambulatory. Through 12-weeks of hydrotherapy, we want to investigate whether there are benefits to lung function, muscle function, body composition, bodily pain and ultimately quality of life. These measures represent meaningful outcomes in the progression of DMD, and have direct patient impact for those affected by DMD.
On completion of the hydrotherapy, we will conduct interviews with some of the participants and their parents. The aim of these interviews is to understand participant and parent barriers to hydrotherapy, and uncover whether hydrotherapy improves the lives of the participants beyond simple clinical measures and questionaires.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1748
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion