In the Netherlands, researchers enrolled 44 inactive adults with various neuromuscular diseases (muscular dystrophy,congenital myopathy, etc.) in a six–month home training programme combining aerobic exercise on an ergometer andeight coaching sessions in person or by telephone.
- Compared to the control group, analyses at the end of the intervention showed unchanged CPK levels and a significantly increased VO2max – an improvement that was still observable one year later, albeit reduced.
- However, no difference was detected between the two groups in terms of muscle strength or perceived functional capacity.
Home exercise combined with coaching therefore appears to be safe while improving the physical condition of these patients. This is a potential avenue to explore for integrating physical activity into their daily lives and perhaps compensating for the lack of physiotherapists in certain regions.
