title: Aerobic walking in slowly progressive neuromuscular disease: effect of a 12-week program.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Kilmer
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McCrory
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Aitkens
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Holcomb
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bernauer
mesh_terms: 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*