Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy need daily stretching to reduce pain, protect joints and maintain movement. Without it, weak hip muscles lead to toe walking, causing the calf muscles and Achilles tendon to tighten and shorten. This results in permanent contractures, pain, poor sleep and earlier loss of mobility and independence. Daily stretching is essential but difficult for many families to provide consistently.

This grant will fund the Develop stage of the Stretch project, a wearable support co-designed with families to make daily stretching safer, easier and more comfortable at home. A working prototype already exists. Funding will enable testing and refinement with families and clinicians to ensure it is safe, practical and effective, helping reduce pain, improve daily stretching, maintain movement and independence, and ease the burden on carers.