Exercise Therapy for Patients with Muscle Dystrophies

Effects of Exercise Therapy on Functional Capacity, Muscle Strength and Patient-reported Outcomes in Patients with Muscle Dystrophies

Muscular Dystrophies (MD) are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterised by muscle wasting that lead to progressive loss of function. Although exercise training has been traditionally neglected to these patients due to concerns regarding muscle damage, research has shown that exercise therapy is safe and tolerable in this population and can lead to potential gains in endurance and muscle strength, as well as other patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life.Therefore, in this study, the investigators aim to examine the feasibility, tolerability and safety as well as the effects of a 12-week, exercise-training program in patients with MD on functional capacity, muscle strength, and health-related quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical or Genetically diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy including Limb-Girdle type I and type II, Myotonic Dystrophy type I and type II and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.
• Age > 18 years old
• Ability to walk independently for 10 or more metres

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to understand or read Spanish/Catalan.
• Patients engaging in a similar exercise-based program in the past 12 months
• Patients with severe cognitive, neurological or musculoskeletal impairment unable to participate in the exercise program
• Unstable respiratory, cardiovascular or metabolic disease