RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence for the efficacy of moderate-intensity continuous exercise benefitting clinically relevant outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, persons with MS who have walking disability (pwMS-wd) are severely deconditioned and may achieve superior benefits by engaging in high-intensity interval training (HIIT), especially while utilizing adaptive equipment, such as recumbent arm/leg stepping (RSTEP). The proposed study will assess the feasibility of a 12-week, RSTEP HIIT program in pwMS-wd. The secondary aim will examine changes in aerobic fitness, physical activity, ambulation, upper arm function, cognition, fatigue, and depression as clinically relevant efficacy outcomes following the 12-week, RSTEP HIIT intervention. METHODS: The study will recruit 15 pwMS-wd. Feasibility will be measured via process, resource, management, and scientific outcomes throughout the entirety of the research study. The secondary, clinically relevant outcomes will consist of a neurological exam, aerobic capacity, physical activity, ambulation, cognition, upper arm function, fatigue, and depression. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (T1), midpoint (T2, following 6 weeks), and post-intervention (T3, following 12 weeks). The intervention will involve 12 weeks of supervised, individualized HIIT sessions two to three times per week. The individual HIIT sessions will each involve 10 cycles of 60-s intervals at the wattage associated with 90% VO2peak followed by 60 s of active recovery intervals at 15 W, totaling 20 min in length plus 5-min warm-up and cool-down periods. DISCUSSION: The feasibility design of the proposed study will provide experience and preliminary data for advancing towards a proof-of-concept study comparing HIIT to moderate-intensity continuous RSTEP for improving clinically relevant outcomes in a randomized control trial design. The results will be disseminated via manuscripts for publication and a report for distribution among the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04416243 . Retrospectively registered on June 4, 2020.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Entrenamiento de Intervalos de Alta Intensidad , Esclerosis Múltiple , Caminata , Estudios de Factibilidad , Humanos , Limitación de la Movilidad , Esclerosis Múltiple/terapia , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Aerobic exercise can promote neuroplastic responses in the healthy and injured brain. Although the role of exercise in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is debated, new evidence suggests that exercise may reduce disease progression. While common exercise modalities such as the treadmill and cycle ergometer have been explored in ALS, the safety and feasibility of a total body recumbent stepper have not been investigated. Additionally, the functional and neurophysiological effects of recumbent stepping in ALS are still unknown. Here, we investigated the safety and feasibility of a 4-week recumbent stepping program to slow disease progression in ALS and possibly facilitate neuroplasticity. METHOD: Nine individuals with ALS performed moderate intensity recumbent stepping for four weeks. Outcomes included participation satisfaction questionnaire, ALS Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALSFRS-R), clinical tests of walking and endurance, fatigue severity scale, Beck depression inventory, SF-12, and transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs). All measurements were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Eight participants completed the study without any adverse events. The ALSFRS-R scores were similar at the end of the study and at follow-up. No significant differences were noted for any of the clinical outcomes. MEPs were present only in two participants and changes in corticomotor excitability after exercise were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this preliminary study support the safety and feasibility of 12 sessions of total body recumbent stepping in individuals with ALS.
Asunto(s)
Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/terapia , Terapia por Ejercicio , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/fisiopatología , Depresión/fisiopatología , Depresión/terapia , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Potenciales Evocados Motores/fisiología , Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Terapia por Ejercicio/psicología , Fatiga/fisiopatología , Fatiga/terapia , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Satisfacción del Paciente , Resistencia Física , Proyectos Piloto , Datos Preliminares , Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Facilitation of leg muscle activity by active arm movements during locomotor tasks could be beneficial during gait rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. The present study explored the effects of arm movements on leg muscle activity during submaximal recumbent stepping. Healthy subjects exercised on a recumbent stepping machine both with and without arm movements. Activity of five leg muscles was recorded and compared for stepping with and without arm movements. To determine which arm movements are optimal for leg muscle facilitation, subjects were instructed to step with 1) mechanically coupled vs. decoupled arm and leg movements, 2) synchronous vs. asynchronous arm movements, and 3) at 50 vs. 70 RPM. Leg muscle activity was increased by active arm movements in all muscles, except the vastus lateralis muscle. Activity of other extensors (soleus, medial gastrocnemius, and biceps femoris) was primarily increased during the extension phase, whereas activity of flexors (tibialis anterior) was also increased during the flexion phase. Facilitation was more or less consistent for both frequencies and for synchronous and asynchronous movements. For coupled arm movements, facilitation tended to be diminished or absent. The observed facilitation in the present study is probably of neuromuscular rather than biomechanical origin, since the arms are probably hardly involved in postural control or weight-bearing during recumbent stepping. Further studies in patients should explore the possibility to integrate neuromuscular facilitation in rehabilitation programs.