Study of Fear of Falling in Muscular Dystrophy and Effects of Rehabilitation with or without Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the fear of falling FOF in people with muscular dystrophy, including types like myotonic, facio-scapular-humeral, Becker, cingulate, Emery-Dreifuss, and distal dystrophies. The study aims to understand how common FOF is in this group, how it changes over time, and how clinical, motor, cognitive, and psychological factors relate to FOF. It also evaluates two treatment approaches for those with disabling FOF motor rehabilitation alone versus motor rehabilitation combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy. The study includes two treatment groups. One group receives motor rehabilitation sessions lasting 45 minutes each, with a total of 36 sessions focused on joint mobility, balance, gait training, proprioception, and use of special rehabilitation devices. The other group receives the same motor rehabilitation but fewer sessions 24 total combined with weekly 45-minute cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT sessions over 12 weeks. CBT sessions work on identifying and changing thoughts and behaviors related to fear of falling. Participants will be assessed using various tools at baseline and multiple follow-up points up to nine months. The primary measure is the Falls Efficacy Scale-International FES-I to assess fear of falling. Secondary assessments include physical function tests, cognitive and psychological evaluations, walking activity monitored by pedometer, and quality of life surveys. The study will monitor how treatments affect fall frequency, cognitive and emotional health, and overall function.

Fear of Falling in Muscular Dystrophy