Duchene Muscular DystrophyNCT07780435
Whole-body Vibration Versus Gravity Force Stimulation on Postural Stability in Children With Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
A study testing force gravity stimulation and whole body vibration in people with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
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? Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 10 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
- What is being tested?
- force gravity stimulation and whole body vibration
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 10 Apr 2026to 10 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 10 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 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).
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
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?
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
- Being tested
- force gravity stimulation, whole body vibration
- Keywords
- Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, postural stability, whole body vibration, gravity force stimulation, children
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
force gravity stimulationProcedure or surgery
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.
whole body vibrationProcedure or surgery
we use vibrating platform •
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| whole body vibration group | Experimental | whole body vibration intervention Receives: Procedure: whole body vibration |
| force gravity stimulation group | Experimental | force gravity stimulation intervention Receives: Procedure: force gravity stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
abdominal muscle thickness
measure the abdominal muscle thickness
Measured: 3 months
postural stability
- BIODEX MEDICAL SYSTEM used for assessment of postural stability and balance
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Aug 2026
- Study start10 Apr 2026
- Primary completion15 May 2026
- Study completion10 Aug 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Duchene Muscular DystrophyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mostafa S Ali, Cairo University
- Investigators
- Mostafa S. Ali, Principal investigator, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07780435
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006366
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Whole-body Vibration Versus Gravity Force Stimulation on Postural Stability in Children With Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07780435
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P.T.REC/012/006366
- Conditions
- Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
- Keywords
- Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, postural stability, whole body vibration, gravity force stimulation, children
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Aug 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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?
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 design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| whole body vibration group | Experimental | Procedure: whole body vibrationwhole body vibration intervention |
| force gravity stimulation group | Experimental | Procedure: force gravity stimulationforce gravity stimulation intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 10 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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).
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| force gravity stimulationThirty 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. | Procedure or surgery | force gravity stimulation group |
| whole body vibrationwe use vibrating platform • | Procedure or surgery | whole body vibration group |
Primary outcome
abdominal muscle thickness
Time frame: 3 months
measure the abdominal muscle thickness
postural stability
Time frame: 3 months
• BIODEX MEDICAL SYSTEM used for assessment of postural stability and balance
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mostafa S. Ali principal investigator
Cairo University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing force gravity stimulation and whole body vibration in people with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
abdominal muscle thickness (time frame: 3 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Aug 2026.