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Review Article 


Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review

Mohammad E Tamboosi, Sara E Tamboosi, Meshari M Alosaimi, Mohammed A Banakhr, Muhannad S Bin-afif, Aisha A Shalwala, Dareen A Bukhari, Hebah A Takrouni.


Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy due to motor neuron degeneration. Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in managing the disease and improving quality of life. This systematic review aims to investigate the effectiveness of specific rehabilitation interventions in improving motor function, including muscle strength, lung function, and range of motion, for individuals with SMA. A systematic literature search was conducted in major databases (CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and PEDro) from 2014 to 2024 using relevant keywords. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that physical therapy, occupational therapy, and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) combined with physiotherapy demonstrated the most positive effects on gross and fine motor function, muscle strength, and respiratory function in SMA patients. However, the overall quality of evidence was moderate, with key limitations including small sample sizes, high heterogeneity in study design, and lack of blinding in some trials. While rehabilitation interventions show promise, further well-designed randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are needed to strengthen the evidence base and optimize rehabilitation strategies for this populations.

Key words: Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Assistive Technology, Systematic Review


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Tamboosi ME, Tamboosi SE, Alosaimi MM, Banakhr MA, Bin-afif MS, Shalwala AA, Bukhari DA, Takrouni HA. Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. Majmaah J Heal Sci. 2025; 13(4): 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016

Web Style

Tamboosi ME, Tamboosi SE, Alosaimi MM, Banakhr MA, Bin-afif MS, Shalwala AA, Bukhari DA, Takrouni HA. Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. https://www.mjhs-mu.org/?mno=240586 [Access: October 11, 2025]. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Tamboosi ME, Tamboosi SE, Alosaimi MM, Banakhr MA, Bin-afif MS, Shalwala AA, Bukhari DA, Takrouni HA. Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. Majmaah J Heal Sci. 2025; 13(4): 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Tamboosi ME, Tamboosi SE, Alosaimi MM, Banakhr MA, Bin-afif MS, Shalwala AA, Bukhari DA, Takrouni HA. Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. Majmaah J Heal Sci. (2025), [cited October 11, 2025]; 13(4): 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016


Harvard Style

Tamboosi, M. E., Tamboosi, . S. E., Alosaimi, . M. M., Banakhr, . M. A., Bin-afif, . M. S., Shalwala, . A. A., Bukhari, . D. A. & Takrouni, . H. A. (2025) Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. Majmaah J Heal Sci, 13 (4), 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016


Turabian Style

Tamboosi, Mohammad E, Sara E Tamboosi, Meshari M Alosaimi, Mohammed A Banakhr, Muhannad S Bin-afif, Aisha A Shalwala, Dareen A Bukhari, and Hebah A Takrouni. 2025. Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences, 13 (4), 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016


Chicago Style

Tamboosi, Mohammad E, Sara E Tamboosi, Meshari M Alosaimi, Mohammed A Banakhr, Muhannad S Bin-afif, Aisha A Shalwala, Dareen A Bukhari, and Hebah A Takrouni. "Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review." Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences 13 (2025), 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Tamboosi, Mohammad E, Sara E Tamboosi, Meshari M Alosaimi, Mohammed A Banakhr, Muhannad S Bin-afif, Aisha A Shalwala, Dareen A Bukhari, and Hebah A Takrouni. "Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review." Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences 13.4 (2025), 232-250. Print. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Tamboosi, M. E., Tamboosi, . S. E., Alosaimi, . M. M., Banakhr, . M. A., Bin-afif, . M. S., Shalwala, . A. A., Bukhari, . D. A. & Takrouni, . H. A. (2025) Efficacy of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Improve Their Motor Function: Systematic Review. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences, 13 (4), 232-250. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2025.04.016




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