Aerobic walking in slowly progressive neuromuscular disease: effect of a 12-week program.
OBJECTIVE
Poor cardiorespiratory endurance is a common finding in neuromuscular disease (NMD), and the capacity of such patients to respond to aerobic training is unclear. This study was conducted to determine if a 12-week walking program results in increased aerobic capacity in slowly progressive NMD subjects, whether such a program is safely tolerated, and whether such patients can adhere to a self-monitored, home-based training program.


METHODS
Before-after trial.


METHODS
Subjects' homes.


METHODS
A cohort of 8 slowly progressive NMD subjects (4 men, 4 women) followed in the neuromuscular disease clinic participated (age, 36.6 +/- 8.0 yrs; ht, 170 +/- 11 cm; wt, 74.3 +/- 19.0 kg) (Mean +/- SD).


METHODS
Subjects walked 15 to 30 min 3 to 4 days a week at 50% to 60% of their heart rate reserve.


METHODS
Resting, submaximal, and peak heart rates, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, oxygen uptake, and peak power output.


RESULTS
Graded exercise testing to volitional fatigue using a semirecumbent cycle ergometer before and after the training program found significant decreases in submaximal heart rate by 7 +/- 3 beats/min (Mean +/- SEM) (95% CI = -23 to 9) (p = .046) and submaximal systolic blood pressure by 11 +/- 4 mmHg (95% CI = -31 to 9) (p = .019), and nonsignificant increases in peak power output and VO2.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training is well tolerated and may provide modest improvement in aerobic capacity in slowly progressive NMD subjects.
Wright
N C
NC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Kilmer
D D
DD
McCrory
M A
MA
Aitkens
S G
SG
Holcomb
B J
BJ
Bernauer
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*