title: Anti-gravity training improves walking capacity and postural balance in patients with muscular dystrophy.
abstract: Recent studies in patients with muscular dystrophies suggest positive effects of aerobic and strength training. These studies focused training on using bicycle ergometers and conventional strength training, which precludes more severely affected patients from participating, because of their weakness. We investigated the functional effects of combined aerobic and strength training in patients with Becker and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies with knee muscle strength levels as low as 3% of normal strength. Eight patients performed 10 weeks of aerobic and strength training on an anti-gravity treadmill, which offered weight support up to 80% of their body weight. Six minute walking distance, dynamic postural balance, and plasma creatine kinase were assessed 10 weeks prior to training, immediately before training and after 10 weeks of training. Training elicited an improvement of walking distance by 8±2% and dynamic postural balance by 13±4%, indicating an improved physical function. Plasma creatine kinase remained unchanged. These results provide evidence that a combination of aerobic and strength training during anti-gravity has the potential to safely improve functional ability in severely affected patients with Becker and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory, Section of Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin Peter
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Berthelsen
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Husu
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory, Section of Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sofie Bouschinger
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kira Philipsen
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Prahm
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vissing
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory, Section of Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: brjensen@ifi.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Bente Rona
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D018470:Gravity, Altered; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance; D016138:Walking
keywords: Becker muscular dystrophy; Dynamic postural balance; Gait; Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy; Rehabilitation; Training