title: Feasibility and effects of a physical exercise programme in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and effects of a physical exercise programme on functioning and health-related quality of life in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  After stratification for level of functioning, study participants were assigned by lot to either a training group or a control group. Training-group participants attended a 60-minute comprehensive group-training programme, Friskis&Svettis® Open Doors, twice a week for 14 weeks. The six-minute walk test was the primary outcome measure and the timed-stands test, the timed up-and-go test, the Epworth sleepiness scale and the Short Form-36 health survey were secondary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intention-to-treat analyses revealed no significant differences in any outcome measures, except for an increased between-group difference after intervention in the Short Form-36 mental health subscale and a decrease in the vitality subscale for the control group. The programme was well tolerated and many training-group participants perceived subjective changes for the better. No negative effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Friskis&Svettis® Open Doors programme was feasible for adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 who had been screened for cardiac involvement, had distal or mild-to-moderate proximal muscle impairment, and no severe cognitive impairments. No beneficial or detrimental effects were evident.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. marie.kierkegaard@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kierkegaard
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harms-Ringdahl
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edström
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Widén Holmqvist
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tollbäck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology