Study of Virtual Park Cycling Therapy to Slow Motor Decline in Children and Teens with Neuromuscular Disorders

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effects of a dual-task, multimodal training program called Virtual Park on slowing the decline of functional motor skills in children and adolescents with neuromuscular disorders such as dystrophinopathy, muscular dystrophies, and congenital myopathies. It compares Virtual Park-assisted dual-task cycling to standard therapy to assess whether it slows motor decline and improves engagement and neuropsychological functions. Participants will undergo two phases the first three months involve standard therapy, which may include outpatient treatment or no treatment. The second three months involve an experimental rehabilitative intervention using the Virtual Park application combined with cycling on a medical certified cyclearm ergometer three times a week for 20 minutes, plus warm-up and cool-down periods. The Virtual Park software provides exercises targeting cognitive areas such as visual attention, working memory, inhibition, and navigation during cycling. Throughout the 6-month study, participants will be assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using various motor function tests including the Motor Function Measure-32, North Star Ambulatory Assessment, Timed Functional Tests, 6-Minute Walking Test, Performance Upper Limb Module 2.0 scale, and Assisted-6 Minute Cycling Test. Researchers will monitor changes in motor and neuropsychological function, engagement, and safety. The study is sponsored by Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato.

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