Walking & Active
Staying Strong & Active
Helping your child stay active, protect their muscles, and preserve independence throughout the walking years.
The walking years are often some of the busiest and most rewarding years of childhood.
School. Sports. Birthday parties. Vacations. Playing with friends. Trying new hobbies. Learning new skills.
During this stage, your child may still be walking well while beginning to tire more easily than other children.
They may take longer to climb stairs. Need more breaks. Fall a little more often.
These changes can feel concerning, but they also provide opportunities to protect your child's muscles, conserve energy, and continue participating in the activities they love.
The goal of this stage is not to stop your child from being active.
The goal is to help them stay active safely and thoughtfully while preserving strength and independence for as long as possible.
Why this stage matters
Movement still matters — with a little more planning.
Many parents worry that every fall means something is wrong or that they should stop their child from playing.
Neither is usually true.
Children with Duchenne still need opportunities to play, explore, socialize, and enjoy childhood.
The difference is that activity begins to require more planning.
Your healthcare team will help you find the right balance between movement, exercise, rest, and recovery so your child can continue participating without overworking already vulnerable muscles.
Common changes during this stage
What you may begin to notice
Every child progresses differently, and these changes usually happen gradually. Noticing them isn't a sign that something has suddenly gone wrong — it's a sign that it may be time to think about pacing, rest, and support.
Tires more easily
Needs more frequent breaks
Falls more often
Has more difficulty climbing stairs
Begins using handrails more often
May struggle to keep up with peers
Takes longer to recover after activity
Finding the right balance
Movement matters — and so does recovery.
One of the biggest lessons families learn during this stage is that movement is important — but so is recovery.
Children with Duchenne benefit from regular movement while avoiding activities that place excessive strain on their muscles.
- Listening to fatigue
- Taking planned rest breaks
- Choosing participation over competition
- Conserving energy for meaningful activities
- Working closely with your physical therapist
Movement & exercise
Keep your child moving — gently and consistently.
Movement remains an important part of maintaining flexibility, comfort, and participation.
The Keep Moving Library is a place for families to explore:
- Daily stretching
- Home exercises
- Aquatherapy
- Range-of-motion activities
- Balance activities
- Safe strengthening guidance
Stretches, exercises, and ideas you can use today.
We've gathered movement activities in one place so you don't have to recreate them on your own.
Explore the Keep Moving LibrarySwimming & aquatherapy
Why water is often a favorite.
Swimming and aquatic therapy are often excellent activities for children living with Duchenne.
Water reduces stress on muscles and joints while allowing freedom of movement that may become more difficult on land.
Benefits may include:
- Improved flexibility
- Gentle cardiovascular activity
- Increased confidence
- Enjoyment and social participation
Activities should always be individualized with guidance from your child's healthcare team.
Preventing falls without stopping childhood
Reduce risk without taking away the fun.
Parents often begin noticing more falls during this stage.
Rather than avoiding activity altogether, many families focus on reducing unnecessary risks.
- Appropriate footwear
- Removing household hazards
- Planning rest breaks
- Using elevators when appropriate
- Choosing accessible routes
- Asking for help when needed
The goal is confidence — not fear.
When equipment enters the conversation
Equipment isn't an ending — it's a tool for participation.
Many families worry that discussing mobility equipment means their child is "getting worse."
In reality, introducing equipment at the right time often helps children participate more fully in everyday life.
Sometimes using a lightweight wheelchair at a zoo, amusement park, airport, or family vacation means your child has enough energy left to enjoy the experience instead of becoming exhausted before the day is over.
Equipment is not about giving up.
It is about protecting energy for the moments that matter most.
Keeping Childhood Accessible
What We Wish
Someone Had Told Us
Honest advice and lessons learned from Duchenne families who've been there.
One of the hardest parts of this stage wasn't a major milestone.
It was the little things.
The first time Jake asked to be carried because the walk back to the car felt too long.
The first time he chose to sit and watch instead of joining the game.
The first family outing where we realized we needed to slow down our pace.
Those moments hurt.
Not because they changed who he was—but because they reminded us that Duchenne was quietly changing the way he experienced the world.
For a while, we thought every adjustment meant we were losing something.
Over time, we realized we were looking at it the wrong way.
The goal wasn't to help Jake do everything exactly the way he'd always done it.
The goal was to help him keep doing the things he loved.
Sometimes that meant taking more breaks.
Sometimes it meant leaving a little earlier.
Sometimes it meant choosing swimming instead of another activity.
Sometimes it simply meant letting him set the pace.
We discovered that protecting his energy often gave him more childhood, not less.
He still laughed with friends.
He still explored.
He still played.
He still made memories.
Just sometimes...a little differently.
Looking back, we wish someone had told us that slowing down isn't the same as giving up.
Sometimes it's exactly what allows childhood to keep moving forward.
Related resources
Keep exploring
Keep Moving Library
Stretches, exercises, and movement activities for daily life.
Physical Therapy
Working with your PT team to protect strength and mobility.
Mobility & Equipment
When and why equipment can expand your child's world.
School & Independence
Supporting your child at school and growing their independence.
Treatment Guide
Browse approved and emerging therapies across the standard of care.
Understanding the Standard of Care
The framework that guides care across every stage of Duchenne.