Clinical Trial: Effect of Functional Exercise in Patients With Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

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

Official Title: Effect of Functional Exercise in Patients With Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

Brief Summary:

Background:

-Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited disorder that affects men. People with SBMA often have weakness throughout the body, including the muscles they use for swallowing, breathing, and speaking. We do not know if exercise helps or harms people with SBMA.

Objective:

-To see if a 12-week program of either functional exercise or stretching exercises will improve strength, function, or quality of life in people with SBMA

Eligibility:

  • Participants will be men 18 years of age or older who have genetic confirmation of SBMA.
  • They must be able to walk at least 50 feet with or without an assistive device such as a cane or a walker and stand for 10 minutes without using an assistive device.
  • They must have access to a computer with an Internet connection.

Design:

  • At the first visit to NIH (2 days), participants will have a medical history taken and undergo a physical exam. They will also have blood tests and an EKG, and complete questionnaires about mood, health, and exercise. Tests of muscle strength, balance, and endurance will also be done.
  • Participants who qualify for the study will receive instruction about either strengthening or stretching exercises. They will do these exercises at home one to three times a week for 12 weeks.
  • They will wear a small activity monitor while they exercise and record their exercise in a diary.
  • Objective: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), or Kennedy s disease, is a slowly progressive, X-linked motor neuron disease for which there is currently no treatment. It is caused by a mutation in the androgen receptor that results in a polyglutamine repeat expansion. The role of exercise in motor neuron disease research is debated. Although SBMA is believed to be primarily a neuronopathy, the potential effect of aberrant androgen receptor activity on muscle leads exercise to be of uncertain utility in this population. Our objective is to examine the safety and efficacy of exercise regimens in Kennedy s disease.

    Study Population: We aim to enroll 80 men with genetically confirmed Kennedy s disease.

    Design: This will be a randomized, evaluator blinded, trial with 25 subjects in each exercise arm. Following informed consent, the subjects will undergo an initial medical and physical evaluations followed by a series of neurological tests and blood work over a two-day outpatient visit at the NIH. The subjects will provide blood work for analysis of hormonal levels and assessment of any potential muscle damage. On the second day of their visit, the subjects will be randomized and taught a series of either functional or stretching exercises that they will engage in as part of the study and control arms, respectively. Following the baseline visit to NIH, the subjects will be monitored throughout the study with telephone contacts and other measures including video recording to monitor their progress and compliance. The subjects will return to the NIH at the end of a 12 week period at which time the physical and laboratory testing will be repeated. After the 12 week exercise period there will be a four week period where we will follow-up with the participants by telephone and e-mail. At the end of the trial all of the subject
    Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

    Current Primary Outcome: Adult Myopathy Assessment Tool (AMAT)

    Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • To assess the effect of functional exercise on muscle strength as measured by quantitative muscle analysis (QMA), and the Timed up and go test (TUG), and progressive height sit-to-stand.
    • Several exploratory biomarkers that may be affected by exercise will be evaluated, including insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), testosterone, growth hormone, and creatine kinase.
    • To assess the ability of patients to maintain exercise compliance as measured by accelerometer measurements.
    • To assess the effect of functional exercise on balance as measured by Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) evaluation.
    • To assess the effect of functional exercise on adverse outcomes as measured by an adverse event questionnaire.
    • Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) testing will also be used to determine if the subjects mood is affected by exercise.
    • To assess the effect of functional exercise on quality of life as measured by the SF36v2.


    Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

    Information By: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

    Dates:
    Date Received: June 8, 2011
    Date Started: May 20, 2011
    Date Completion:
    Last Updated: April 20, 2017
    Last Verified: March 6, 2017