The typical age for transition to electric wheelchair in DMD is around?

• A. 12.0 years
• B. 14.6 years
• C. 16.0 years
• D. 18.0 years

Answer: (B)

As Duchenne muscular dystrophy progresses, the ability to ambulate declines and the effort required for walking becomes unsafe or unsustainable. When independent mobility with a manual chair is no longer practical, many individuals switch to powered mobility to maintain independence, safety, and participation in daily activities. The typical age for this transition, based on studies of mobility decline in DMD, is about 14.6 years. This reflects the mid-teens when ambulation often becomes impractical due to worsening proximal weakness, fatigue, and reduced endurance.

Context helps: while some may transition earlier or later depending on disease progression and access to care, the mean around 14.6 years best represents the common pattern. The other ages are outside that typical window—some younger transitions occur in faster progression, but they are not the average; later transitions are less common but can happen with slower progression or prolonged ambulation with assistive devices.