Neuromuscular Disease Patients: Benefit From Fitness Coaching

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    Neuromuscular Disease Patients: Benefit From Fitness Coaching






A new study, published June 4 in Neurology, suggests that tailored aerobic exercise routines and ongoing coaching at home can improve physical fitness in people with neuromuscular diseases. Sander Oorschot and a team at the University of Amsterdam led the research.

In this randomized controlled trial, participants with various neuromuscular conditions were assigned to either a six-month program featuring customized home-based aerobic workouts and coaching or a usual care group. The study included 91 people, and fitness and health assessments were conducted at the start, after six months, and again a year later.

The results showed that those in the exercise and coaching group had better improvements in physical fitness, measured by peak oxygen uptake, than those receiving standard care. Specifically, the intervention group’s fitness levels increased by an average of 2.2 mL/min/kg after the program and 1.7 mL/min/kg over time, compared to the control group.

Other outcomes—like daily activity, quality of life, physical functioning, and metabolic health markers—didn’t show notable differences between the groups. The number of adverse events was similar in both groups, and creatine kinase levels, a marker often associated with muscle damage, remained unchanged.

Looking ahead, coauthor Eric L. Voorn, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of future studies examining how improved fitness translates to daily activities for people with neuromuscular diseases. He also highlighted the need for strategies to help people stay motivated to exercise regularly, so the benefits of long-term treatment can last.

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