MedPath

High Intensity Training in Patients With Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
FSHD - Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Interventions
Other: Supervised training
Other: Unsupervised training
Other: Control
Other: Optional training
Registration Number
NCT02159963
Lead Sponsor
Grete Andersen, MD
Brief Summary

The investigators aim to investigate the effect of high-intensity training in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Can patients benefit from this type of exercise without muscle damage.

Detailed Description

Clinical trials have in recent years demonstrated that aerobic exercise, are both effective and safe in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Previous studies have tested exercise at moderate intensity. No studies have so far investigated whether high-intensity-training (HIIT) exercise can increase fitness, or the training will cause muscle damage. However, we know that patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy do not get increased muscle damage after a single exercise at high intensity.

Investigators aim to investigate whether patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular disease may increase their fitness and improve their functioning in everyday life without muscle injury in a time-saving high intensity training.

To investigate whether HIIT is safe and effective, three groups of participants are included. Two training groups, one group of patients and another with healthy matched subjects. The training is done on an ergometer-bike three times a week for 8 weeks. One weekly training will be supervised. The training consists of an interval training program (10-20-30). The third group is a none-training control group of patients. This group will undergo the same tests as the two training groups.

To investigate wether participants would continue HIIT training after 8 weeks of supervised training, the two training groups, one group of patients and one group of healthy matched subjects, are tested after additional 8 weeks of home based optional training.

To investigate wether patients with muscular dystrophy facioscapulohumeral will perform unsupervised HIIT training and whether it will be as effective as the supervised training, the control group of patients who did not train the first 8 weeks, is instructed to do home based HIIT for 8 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
18
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy or
  • healthy matched control, matched for age, gender, BMI and activity level.
Exclusion Criteria
  • More than 1 hour cardiac exercise weekly before inclusion.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • Physical or mental condition, which could influence the results.
  • Participating in other studies, which could influence the results.
  • Physical or mental condition, which prevent participating in the study protocol.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Unsupervised trainingControlParticipants have 8 weeks of non-intervention "Control" period, followed by 8 weeks of home based, unsupervised high intensity interval training.
Supervised trainingSupervised training8 weeks of high intensity training three times a week, once supervised. Followed by 8 weeks home based, unsupervised optional training.
Supervised trainingOptional training8 weeks of high intensity training three times a week, once supervised. Followed by 8 weeks home based, unsupervised optional training.
Unsupervised trainingUnsupervised trainingParticipants have 8 weeks of non-intervention "Control" period, followed by 8 weeks of home based, unsupervised high intensity interval training.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incremental testweek 1,6,11 and 18

An incremental test is performed at baseline (week 1), after 4 weeks interval training, in the end of 8 weeks interval training, and after another 8 week of individual home based training. The primary outcome is change from baseline in maximal oxygen consumption and work load.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Self-assessmentEvery day in week 1-11

Changes between run-in period (week 1-2) and the first intervention period (week 3-11).

Participants evaluate pain, muscle fatigue and daily activity level every day using a visual analog scale (VAS).

Creatine Kinaseweek 1,6,11 and 18

Creatine Kinase (CK) is measure in plasma at week 1,6,11 and 18 in all participants. In the supervised training participants CK is also measured once a week doing the 8 weeks of supervised training.

Activity levelbaseline, week 10 and week 18.

Change in activity level from baseline is measure as step/day. Participants is wearing a pedometer for seven days.

Physical functionbaseline, week 6,11 and 18

We measure changes from baseline in muscle strength, walking speed and the ability to rise up from a chair.

Muscle strength is measured by a hand-held dynamometer. Walking speed is measured by a 6 minute walk test. The ability to rise up from a chair is measured by a 5-times-sit-to-stand-test.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath