Lumbopelvic stabilization-based physiotherapy and rehabilitation and urotherapy for lower urinary tract dysfunction in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of supervised lumbopelvic stabilization and urotherapy on factors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD).

METHOD The study included 32 children aged 5-12 years, who were ambulatory and had a Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Symptom Scale (DVISS) of 8.5 or higher. Lower urinary tract symptoms were assessed using the DVISS, a three-day bladder diary, and a nocturnal enuresis diary. Bowel symptoms were assessed with a seven-day bowel diary. Moreover, physical performance tests, the strength of pelvis-related muscle groups, and participation in activities of daily living were evaluated using validated measurement tools. Participants were randomized into two groups: the active control group (n:16, weight:25.81±9.53 kg, height:121.25±18.22 cm) received only urotherapy, while the treatment group (n:16, weight:25.88±9.67 kg, height: 122.69±16.63 cm) additionally performed lumbopelvic stabilization-based exercises for eight weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

RESULTS Urotherapy significantly reduced LUTD severity (p < 0.001), enuresis frequency (p = 0.014), and the number of symptoms associated with LUTD (p = 0.001). However, adding lumbopelvic stabilization exercises conferred no superiority over urotherapy alone (p > 0.05). Supervised lumbopelvic stabilization improved functional mobility (p < 0.003), muscle strength (p < 0.05), and participation in activities of daily living (p < 0.049). However, neither urotherapy nor lumbopelvic stabilization training had a significant effect on Gower's time or daytime voiding frequency (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION Both interventions were effective in improving bladder and bowel outcomes in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and LUTD, with no superiority observed on lower urinary tract symptoms.