| With Duchenne, weakness is first noticed in the | | | | be done to prolong ambulation (walking). In a |
| thigh muscles. Activities such as climbing stairs, | | | | young child gentle encouragement to participate in |
| getting up from the floor and running are | | | | physical activity is the order of the day. Keep |
| affected. Poor balance combined with muscle | | | | activities fun. Panch Yoga and swimming are |
| weakness makes a child prone to falls. His knees | | | | especially good activities. Panch Yoga involves the |
| may just "give way" without warning. In | | | | ayurvedic Panch Karma & Yoga support with |
| Duchenne, muscle fibres break down and are | | | | the aim of maintaining maximum possible ability at |
| replaced by fibrous and/or fatty tissue causing | | | | every stage of the condition. Panch Yoga therapy |
| the muscle to gradually weaken and lose its | | | | is important during the primary school years to |
| "stretchiness". It may also cause the muscle to | | | | help maintain independent movement for as long |
| look bulky. Some muscles weaken earlier than | | | | as possible and to prevent contractures from |
| others, resulting in an imbalance of strength | | | | developing. Panch Yoga mainly comprises of TMP |
| around the joints. These factors mean that joints | | | | procedure, Pawanmuktasa and Bhastrika |
| stiffen and contractures may develop. In a young | | | | Pranayama. |
| child with Duchenne contracture is most | | | | TMP is a special muscle empowering massage |
| frequently seen in the ankle joint. At some stage, | | | | using extracts of Asparagus racemosus, Sida |
| due to a combination of tightness and weakness | | | | cordifolia, W. somnifera, Vitex negundo, Curcuma |
| of the trunk, hip and knee muscles, your child will | | | | domestica, Berberis aristata, Cyperus rotundus, |
| start to walk on tip toes with his feet apart, his | | | | and Soymida febrifuda as additional ingredients to |
| knees locked and his back arched. This method of | | | | Til, Masha, unpolished rice and wheat bran, all |
| walking is termed a "waddling gait". | | | | cooked with milk. This procedure help to stabilize |
| As the weakness progresses (and the condition | | | | the Sarcolemma membrane defect in the muscle |
| will always cause increasing weakness) mobility | | | | fibers. It also remove excess fat deposition in the |
| becomes more restricted and a child will tire more | | | | muscle and increases muscle power. This therapy |
| quickly. Falls will be more frequent and the use of | | | | should be done twice a month. Yogic stretching |
| a manual wheelchair may be required. Although | | | | and breathing exercises are usually done once or |
| initially weakness is seen in the legs, the arms are | | | | twice a day for 15 minutes at a time. |
| also affected. The pattern of weakness is known | | | | Rasayana suuplements help in regeneration of |
| as proximal – more at the hips and shoulders | | | | living tissues through restoration of cellular |
| than in the hands and feet. During the primary | | | | metabolism. Mamsagni Rasayana is found |
| school years the muscles of the shoulder and | | | | effective to stop further deterioration of |
| upper arm weaken and children start to have | | | | muscles. Patient can notice effect within 6-8 |
| more difficulty raising their arms above their head. | | | | weeks. It has the potential to address the |
| The trunk muscles are weak so maintaining a | | | | underlying degenerative Neuro-muscular |
| good sitting posture is not easy. Some children will | | | | derangement causing destruction of the muscle |
| develop a scoliosis (curvature of the spine) but | | | | fibers. It gives better results if used along with |
| this is usually more of a problem after the ability | | | | TMP ayurvedic therapy and Yogic support. |
| to walk is lost. By the age of 12 many children | | | | Mamsagni Rasayana does not alter the patient's |
| with Duchenne will need to use a wheelchair all the | | | | genetic code or introduce genetic materials into |
| time . During the primary school years, a child's | | | | the body. It is natural product developed and |
| heart and lung function should be monitored. | | | | being clinically used by AMDS India for Care |
| It is important to maintain a child's mobility for as | | | | through ayurvedic research project since 1995. |
| long as possible. Although he will eventually reach a | | | | This natural Rasayana supplement is safe for |
| point where mobility is lost there is much that can | | | | human consumption. |