title: A randomized, controlled trial of a multi-modal exercise intervention in Huntington's disease.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of a structured exercise intervention in people with Huntington's Disease (HD).
  
  
  
  This study was conducted at 6 sites, and participants were randomized into either exercise or control (usual care) groups, and were assessed at baseline, 13 and 26 weeks. The intervention was a 12 week, three times per week progressive exercise program, including aerobic (stationary cycling) and upper and lower body strengthening exercise with tapered 1:1 support for 20 of 36 sessions.
  
  
  
  314 adults were assessed for eligibility: 248 did not meet inclusion criteria, 34 declined, and 32 were recruited and randomized. Three individuals in the intervention group were withdrawn within the first month due to concomitant medical conditions, resulting in 14 participants in intervention and 15 in control groups. There were two AEs in the intervention group, both related to previous medical conditions, and there were two SAEs, both in the control group. The intervention group had better fitness (predicted VO2max difference: 492.3 ml min-1, 95% CI: [97.1, 887.6]), lower UHDRS mMS (difference 2.9 points, 95% [-5.42, -0.32]) and lower weight at Week 13 (difference 2.25 kg, 95% CI: [-4.47, -0.03]).
  
  
  
  This study demonstrates that a short-term exercise intervention is safe and feasible. Individuals with HD may benefit from structured exercise, and intensity, monitoring and support may be key factors in optimizing response. Larger scale trials are now required to fully elucidate the extended clinical potential of exercise in HD.
  
  
  
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN11392629.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, UK; Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, USA. Electronic address: lq2165@tc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamana
authors.affiliation: South East Wales Trials Unit, Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelson
authors.affiliation: Oxford Institute of Nursing and Allied Health Research Oxford Brookes University, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.affiliation: Oxford Institute of Nursing and Allied Health Research Oxford Brookes University, UK.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collett
authors.affiliation: South East Wales Trials Unit, Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Townson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Raymund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anton Adriaan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van der Plas
authors.affiliation: George-Huntington-Institute, Münster, Germany; Dept. of Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reilmann
authors.affiliation: Vikersund Rehabilitation Centre, Vikersund, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Frich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rickards
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Brain Repair Group, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Schools of Medicine and Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3BB, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosser
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, UK; South East Wales Trials Unit, Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Aerobic exercise; Exercise; Huntington’s disease; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation; Strength training