title: Structured exercise program improves functional capacity and delays relapse in euthyroid patients with Graves' disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate short- and long-term effects of structured exercise program in euthyroid patients with Graves' disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a retrospective case-control design. The exercise group (n = 62) underwent 3 weeks of structured exercise program consisting of daily walking, strengthening, and stretching exercises while the control group (n = 62) participated in leisure activities. Thyroid profile, aerobic capacity, and perceived fatigue were evaluated on in-patient admission and discharge. Time to discontinuation of anti-thyroid medication after discharge and time to relapse of symptoms were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exercise group increased estimated peak oxygen consumption (significant group-by-time ANOVA interaction, P < 0.001), decreased serum thyroxin (P = 0.038), increased serum thyrotropin (P = 0.071), and reported less fatigue (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.001) from admission to discharge. The anti-thyroid medication was withdrawn within 6 months of discharge in significantly greater proportion of subjects in the exercise than control group (84% vs. 18%). Conversely, the rate of relapse within 12 months of medication withdrawal was smaller in the exercise (29%) than control group (72%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that structured exercise program may normalize thyroid profile, improve aerobic capacity, and reduce fatigue on the short-term basis as well as reduce the need for anti-thyroid medication on the long-term basis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. mcutovic@gmail.com
authors.forename: Milisav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutovic
authors.forename: Ljubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konstantinovic
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.forename: Vladislava
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vesovic-Potic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055771:Serbia; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D013963:Thyroid Hormones