Safety and efficacy of a 6-month home-based exercise program in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: A randomized controlled trial

Landry Cyrille Bankolé, Guillaume Y. Millet, John Temesi, Damien Bachasson, Marion Ravelojaona, Bernard Wuyam, Samuel Verges, Elodie Ponsot, Jean Christophe Antoine, Fawzi Kadi, Léonard Féasson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)
12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Previous randomized controlled trials investigating exercise training programs in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) patients are scarce and of short duration only. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of a 6-month home-based exercise training program on fitness, muscle, and motor function in FSHD patients.

Methods: Sixteen FSHD patients were randomly assigned to training (TG) and control (CG) groups (both n = 8) in a home-based exercise intervention. Training consisted of cycling 3 times weekly for 35 minutes (combination of strength, high-intensity interval, and low-intensity aerobic) at home for 24 weeks. Patients in CG also performed an identical training program (CTG) after 24 weeks. The primary outcome was change in peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 peak) measured every 6 weeks. The principal secondary outcomes were maximal quadriceps strength (MVC) and local quadriceps endurance every 12 weeks. Other outcome measures included maximal aerobic power (MAP) and experienced fatigue every 6 weeks, 6-minute walking distance every 12 weeks, and muscle characteristics from vastus lateralis biopsies taken pre- and postintervention.

Results: The compliance rate was 91% in TG. Significant improvements with training were observed in the VO 2 peak (+19%, P = 0.002) and MAP by week 6 and further to week 24. Muscle endurance, MVC, and 6-minute walking distance increased and experienced fatigue decreased. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area and citrate synthase activity increased by 34% (P = 0.008) and 46% (P = 0.003), respectively. Dystrophic pathophysiologic patterns were not exacerbated. Similar improvements were experienced by TG and CTG.

Conclusions: A combined strength and interval cycling exercise-training program compatible with patients' daily professional and social activities leads to significant functional benefits without compromising muscle tissue.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere4497
JournalMedicine (United States)
Volume95
Issue number31
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2016

Keywords

  • combined strength and endurance training
  • exercise training
  • facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
  • home-based
  • myopathy
  • randomized controlled trial

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