Protecting and Preserving Dystrophic Muscle: The Balance Between Exercise and Contraction-Induced Muscle Injury

During a symposium at the 8th International Myology Congress in Paris, France, key opinion leaders discussed the need to address the balance between exercise and contraction-induced muscle injury in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and
Becker muscular dystrophy (Becker). They explained the significance of dystrophin in enabling healthy muscle repair, the detrimental impact of contraction-induced muscle injury in the absence of dystrophin, and the safety and potential benefits of exercise in these patients. Sharing data challenging the notion that individuals with Becker and Duchenne are "untrainable," they emphasised the importance of tailored exercise
regimens in these patients. The symposium also provided an overview of the ongoing trials of sevasemten, an investigational drug which is not approved in any territory.
Unpublished 24-month data suggest it can preserve function in Becker, giving it potential as a useful adjuvant in disease management.