title: Aerobic training and postexercise protein in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: RCT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of regular aerobic training and postexercise protein-carbohydrate supplementation in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study, we randomized untrained men (n = 21) and women (n = 20) with FSHD (age 19-65 years) to 2 training groups-training with protein supplement (n = 18) and training with placebo supplement (n = 13)-and a nonintervention control group (n = 10). We assessed fitness, walking speed, muscle strength, questionnaires, and daily activity levels before and after 12 weeks of interventions. Training involved 36 sessions of 30-minute cycle-ergometer training. After each session, patients drank either a protein-carbohydrate or placebo beverage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the trained participants, fitness, workload, and walking speed improved (10% [confidence interval (CI) 4%-15%], 18% [CI 10%-26%], 7% [CI 4%-11%], respectively, p < 0.001, number needed to treat = 2.1). Self-assessed physical capacity and health (Short Form-36) also improved. Muscle strength and daily activity levels did not change with training. Protein-carbohydrate supplementation did not result in further improvements in any tests compared to training alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized, controlled study showed that regular endurance training improves fitness, walking speed, and self-assessed health in patients with FSHD without causing muscle damage. Postexercise protein-carbohydrate supplementation does not add any further improvement to training effects alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study provides Class II evidence that regular aerobic training with or without postexercise protein-carbohydrate supplementation improves fitness and workload in patients with FSHD.
authors.affiliation: From the Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. grete.andersen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: From the Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kira P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Prahm
authors.affiliation: From the Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Julia R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dahlqvist
authors.affiliation: From the Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gülsenay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Citirak
authors.affiliation: From the Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vissing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020391:Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins