Aerobic training and postexercise protein in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: RCT study

Grete Andersen, Kira P Prahm, Julia R Dahlqvist, Gülsenay Citirak, John Vissing

48 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNeurology
Volume85
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)396-403
Number of pages8
ISSN0028-3878
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Aug 2015

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral
  • Physical Fitness
  • Young Adult

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