Clinical Trial: The Effect of Aerobic Exercise, on Fitness and Functional Muscle Strength, in Patients With Muscular Dystrophy

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Effect of a Bike Ergometer Training Program in Patients With Bethlem Myopathy

Brief Summary:

Muscular dystrophy is a group of disorders that are characterized by progressive muscle weakening and loss of muscle mass, caused by defects in muscle proteins. Muscular dystrophy is almost always inherited disorders, and so far, no curative treatments exist.

Previous studies have shown that endurance training significantly improves fitness and self-assessed muscle function in a variety of muscular dystrophies. In this study, we wish to investigate whether patients with Bethlem myopathy (a specific form of muscular dystrophy) also benefit from endurance training.

The study consists of two test days, a 10-week training period and five blood tests.

Patients will be required to train, three times per week, for 10 weeks, on a bike ergometer with a specific training intensity, under pulse rate monitoring.

The training period will be flanked by two test days, where we will determine, and compare the patients' muscle strength and fitness level, from before to after the training program. The patients conditioning level will be determined from a 15 minute cycle ergometer test and patients will undergo three functional tests to determine their functional muscle strength.

We will as a safety measure analyze blood tests before, during and after the training program for the muscle enzyme creatine kinase (an indicator of muscle damage) and through adverse effects as reported by patients during weekly telephone-consultations with the Principal investigator.

We anticipate, that Bethlem myopathy patients will have a similar rise in fitness level and functional muscle strength, as that seen in patients with other forms of muscular dystrophy, wh

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Current Primary Outcome: Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) [ Time Frame: after 10 week bike ergometer training program ]

VO2max will be determined during an incremental bike test to exhaustion. VO2max is a physiological measure of physical fitness. VO2max relies on a persons ability to supply and consume oxygen ("energy") in muscle tissue.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Functional muscle strength [ Time Frame: After completion of a 10 week training program ]
    Functional muscle strength will be determined by performance in three functional tests: a five-repetition-sit-to-stand-test, a 6 minute walk test and a 14 step stair test.
  • Muscle strength determined by dynamometry [ Time Frame: After completion of a 10 week training program ]
  • Self-assessed improvements in muscle function [ Time Frame: After completion of a 10 week training program ]
  • Self-assessed improvements in incidence of problems that are related to inactivity (in patients who are confined to a wheel-chair) [ Time Frame: After a 10 week training program ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Dates:
Date Received: July 3, 2013
Date Started: September 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: April 4, 2016
Last Verified: April 2016