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. 2021 Dec 14;54:985. doi: 10.2340/jrm.v53.985

Table I.

Characteristics of included studies (n = 12)

Author, year (reference) Country
Study design
Sample size
Total, IG and CG. Mean age (SD) or range
And
Participants functioning
Exercise training intervention for the IG
Frequency, Intensity, Time, Setting, Duration
Intervention for the CG (Comparison)
Frequency, Intensity, Time, Setting, Duration
Outcome Measures
N = 24 Arm cycling UE ROM exercises Functioning
IG (n = 12) F:3 days/week F: 5 days/week AERA. Standing from
9.5 (1.38) years
IG (n = 12)
9.33 (1.37) years
I:50% of max difficulty
T:40 minutes
I:5-10 reps depending on individual fatigue
T:40 minutes
supine. T-shirt donning/Removing
NSAA
Alemdaruglo et al. 2015 (24) Turkey All ambulant, able to sit 1 hour independently, steroid use for more than 6 months S: Hospital, supervised by PT
D: 8 weeks
S:Home, supervised by family
D: 8 weeks
Quality-of-life
NA
Strength
RCT Isometric strength by HDD UE. Grip Strength.
Endurance
A6MCT

N = 19 Gravity compensated Functioning
IG (n = 9)
12.9 (2.8) years CG (n = 10)
12.6 (3.4) years
UE training with use of 3D Sony PlayStation videogame
F:5 days/week
I:n/a
Usual care PUL, MFM ROM
Abilhand-plus (questionnaire children/parents)
Heutinck et al. 2018 (26) Netherland Ambulatory and wheelchair dependent, able to lift their hands to the head by use of elbow flexion or compensate. 100% in IG and 60% in CG used steroids. T: 15 minutes
S: Home, supervised at start and after 10 weeks, otherwise independently
D: 30 weeks
Quality-of-life
Kidscreen 52
Global Health (Children and parents questionnaires)
RCT
Strength
Isometric strength by HDD
UE. MVC
Endurance
A6MCT

N = 14 Breathing exercises and PT PT program Functioning
IG (n = 7) program FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75, PERF
8.5-14.11 years F: 5 days/week F:5 days/week
CG (n = 7)
8.5-15.6 years
I: 10 and 18 cm H20 CPAP during 12 deep insp, 4-5 cough cycles, 6 forced expirations I: n/a
T: n/a S: School, supervised by PT.
Quality-of-life
n/a
Houser et al. 1971 (27) T: n/a D: 12 weeks Strength
USA All the participants were wheelchair dependent S: School, supervised by PT. n/a
D: 12 weeks Endurance
CCT M

N = 30 (29 analyzed) Active assisted UE and LE cycling (KTP kinetic ergometer). Usual care Functioning
IG (n = 17)
10.8 (2.4) years
F: 5 days/week MFM, ROM PEDI (self-care questionnaire).
Jansen et al. 2013 (8) Netherland
RCT
CG (n = 13)
10.5 (2.8) years
Ambulatory (n = 18) and wheelchair dependent (n = 12).
23 of participants used steroids. All were able to lift both arms to the head, but unable to use wheel chair > 500 meters.
I:65 revolutions per minute/< 6 OMNI scale)
T: 15 minutes legs, 15 minutes arms.
S: Home supervised by parents or PT.
D: 24 weeks
Quality-of-life
n/a

Strength
MRC

Endurance
A6MCT

N= 18 (17 analyzed, one died) Respiratory strength and endurance training by use of circuit respiration device (flow limiting resistance). Usual care Functioning
14.2 (7-20) years
IG (n = 9)
CG (n = 9)
F: 5 days/week
I: Endurance;
VC
Quality-of-life
n/a
Martin et al. 1986 (28) Wheelchair dependent (n = 17), ambulatory (n = 1) Ventilate until exhaustion within 3 minutes, 20% over Strength
Australia VC rage in one sequence. PeMax and
Strength: Maximal inspiratory/expiratory manoeuvers in 3-5 seconds PiMax
RCT cross-over S: supervised at school
D: 8 weeks
Endurance
Pe time and Pi time

N = 22 (20 analyzed) Inspiratory muscle training Placebo Functioning
11.6 (9-14) years (Triflow II) Forced expirations (Peak expiratory flow meter). FVC, FEV1, PERF
F: 5 days/week
Radillo et al. 1989 (29)
United Kingdom
n/a I: 20 inspirations with increased resistance flow
T: n/a
S: School, supervised by PT
D: 18 days
F: 5 days/week
I: 10 expirations
T: n/a
S: School, supervised by PT
D: 18 days
Quality-of-life
n/a
Strength
PiMax
RCT cross-over Endurance
n/a

N = 18 LE exercise program and passive stretching. Series of oral instructed free exercises for the LE and passive stretching. Functioning
Scott et al. 1989 (30) United Kingdom 6.9 (1.17) years
(5-9) years
IG (n = 9)
CG (n = 11)
All were fully ambulatory, with anticipated compliance to the intervention.
F: 7 days/week
I: Manual resistance (n/a)
T: 15 minutes
S: Home, supervised by the parents
D: 6 months
F: 7 days/week
I: n/a
T: 15 minutes
S: Home, supervised by the parents
D: 6 months
Locomotor ability, ROM ankle dorsiflexion. Vignos Scale, 8.4 and 45 meter timed test.
Quality-of-life
n/a
RCT Strength
MRC, Myometric and torque force output

Endurance
n/a

N = 18 (12 analyzed, four died). Inspiratory muscle training Usual care Functioning
15 (range 10.4 – 23.4) years
IG (n = 7)
with flow resistance to play a video game with visual audio feedback. FVC (% pred)
CG (n = 11) Ambulatory (n = 2) and wheelchair dependent (n = 2). F: 5 days/week
I: Exceed a pre-set level of resistance, 6.25, 4.76, 3.18 or 2.38 mm restrictors.
Quality-of-life
n/a
Stern et al. 1989 (31) Australia S: School, supervised Strength
PeMax
D: 6 months IP, 12 months SP. (% pred), PiMax (% pred)
RCT cross-over Endurance
Endurance (mmHg)

N = 16 Inspiratory resistive muscle training (Triflow) Placebo Functioning
IG (n = 8) F: 2times/5 days Inspiratory muscle training (Triflow) VC, FRC, TLC, FEV1, FEV1/
14.7 (4.5) years I: 30% of PiMax FVC
Topin et al. 2002 (32) CG (n = 8) T: 10 minutes F:2times/5 days
France 12.63 (1.8) years S: Home, supervised by parents, D: 6 weeks I: 5% of PiMax Quality-of-life
T: 10 minutes n/a
RCT All were wheelchair dependent, clinically stable and free of medication and dyspnea S: Home, supervised by parents Strength
D: 6 weeks PiMax/MIP
Endurance
Tlim

N = 28 Resistance muscle training (active/active assisted) of LE, UE and abdominal muscles. Usual care Functioning
Vignos et al. 1966 (33) IG (n = 14) 7.4 years
CG (n = 14) 7.7 years
F: 7 days/week first 6 months, 3-5 days/week next 6 months Timed tests by Stair climbing, rising from floor, rising from chair, 23 feet walking.
USA Fully ambulating with good functional status I: 10 reps with maximal resistance/lowest degree of assistance by antigravity pulley. Quality-of-life
n/a
CCT T: 30 minutes
S: Home, initial supervised by PT.
D: 12 months
Strength
Overall muscle strength %-of normal (MRC). Weight lifted in each exercise.
Endurance n/a

N = 30 (22 analyzed)
IG (n = 15) 13.6 (4.5) years CG (n = 15) 14.5 (3.8) years
Inspiratory muscle training with special constructed training device.
F: 2 times/day
5 days/week
Usual care Functioning
VC, FEV1, 12 s MVV
Quality-of-life
n/a
Wanke et al. 1994 (34) Australia Both ambulatory (n = 7) and wheelchair depended (n = 23). I: Endurance;
10 cycles of 1-minute duration with variable resistance, 20 second rest.
Strength PesMax, Pdi
Strength;
10 maximal inspirations. Endurance
RCT Endurance time (Te)
T:n/a
S: Home, supervised by clinicians or parents
D: 6 months

N = 45 Breathing exercises and a PT program as CG. PT program Functioning
IG (n=24) F: 2 times/day VC, FVC, FEV1, Mobility of thorax (circumference measured at maximal inspiration (FVC level), neutral (functional residual capacity- level) and maximal expiration (residual volume-level) at three defined anatomical reference points
Zileili et al. 1999 (35) Turkey 12.08 (1.79) years
CG (n = 21)
23.43 (2.04) years
F: 3 times/day
7 days/week
I: 10 reps
a) isolated chest breathing
b) respiratory exercise combined with other exercises
c) Breathing cycles with Triflow device
T: n/a
S: Home, supervised by parents
7 days/week
I: 10 reps active or active assisted UE and LE exercises isotonic exercise for abdominal muscles. Passive stretching of LE (hip, flexors, hamstrings, tensor facia latae, gastro soleus, lumbar extensors)
T: n/a
S: Home, supervised and help from parents
Quality-of-life
n/a
CCT Participants with early scoliosis, able to cooperate and without affected respiration and use of respiratory assistive devices D: 4 weeks D: 4 weeks
Strength
n/a
Endurance
n/a

IG : Intervention group; CG: Control Group; SD : Standard deviation; F: Frequency; I: Intensity; T: time; S : Setting; D: Duration (intervention period); RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial; HHD: Hand Held Dynamometer; MMDT: Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test; AREA: Arm elevation assessment; NSAA: North Star Ambulatory Assessment; A6MCT: Assisted 6 Minutes Cycling Test; PUL: Performance Of Upper Limb; MFM: Motor Function Measure; ROM : Range Of Motion; HRQoL: Health Related Quality of Life; CCT : Clinical Controlled Trial; MVV: Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; FVC: Forced Vital Capasity; FEV1 : Forced Expiratory Volume first second; FEF: Forced Expiratory Flow; PEFR: Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; MRC: Medical Research Council (scale); PEDI: Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory; MEP: Maximal Expiratory Pressure; MIP and Pi Max : Maximal Inspiratory Pressure; Pe and Pi time: Expiratory or Inspiratory Pressure sustained over time; Tlim: Time limit, maximal time a subject was able to sustain breathing against a predetermined inspiratory load without fatigue; VC: Vital Capacity; TLC: Total Lung Capacity; Pesmax: Maximal Sniff assessed Esophageal; Pdi: Trans diaphragmatic Pressure; n/a: not available