Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of regular aerobic training and postexercise protein-carbohydrate supplementation in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study, we randomized untrained men (n 21) and women (n 20) with FSHD (age 19-65 years) to 2 training groups - training with protein supplement (n 18) and training with placebo supplement (n 13) - and a nonintervention control group (n 10). We assessed fitness, walking speed, muscle strength, questionnaires, and daily activity levels before and after 12 weeks of interventions. Training involved 36 sessions of 30-minute cycle-ergometer training. After each session, patients drank either a protein-carbohydrate or placebo beverage. Results: In the trained participants, fitness, workload, and walking speed improved (10% [confidence interval (CI) 4%-15%], 18% [CI 10%-26%], 7% [CI 4%-11%], respectively, p < 0.001, number needed to treat 2.1). Self-assessed physical capacity and health (Short Form-36) also improved. Muscle strength and daily activity levels did not change with training. Protein-carbohydrate supplementation did not result in further improvements in any tests compared to training alone. Conclusions: This randomized, controlled study showed that regular endurance training improves fitness, walking speed, and self-assessed health in patients with FSHD without causing muscle damage. Postexercise protein-carbohydrate supplementation does not add any further improvement to training effects alone. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that regular aerobic training with or without postexercise protein-carbohydrate supplementation improves fitness and workload in patients with FSHD.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Neurology |
| Vol/bind | 85 |
| Udgave nummer | 5 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 396-403 |
| Antal sider | 8 |
| ISSN | 0028-3878 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 4 aug. 2015 |