Invited Review: Update on Exercise in Persons With Muscle Disease-Article

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The document is an extensive review on the role of exercise in managing various muscle diseases, specifically myopathies, documented in the journal "Muscle & Nerve." It thoroughly examines research findings from the past decade, highlighting the effects of different exercise interventions on individuals with muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophies, myotonic disorders, congenital, mitochondrial, metabolic, and inflammatory myopathies. It challenges the historical view that discouraged exercise for individuals with myopathies due to concerns over exacerbating the disease, and suggests that exercise is not only safe but beneficial. The review encompasses various exercise types including aerobic/endurance, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises, and outlines the physiological benefits of each type at both macro- and microscopic levels.<br /><br />Key findings suggest that exercise, whether aerobic or resistance, generally leads to improved muscle strength, functional abilities, and overall quality of life without significant risks of adverse effects. For instance, aerobic exercises are particularly beneficial in enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness, while resistance training is effective in building muscle strength and endurance. However, there’s an acknowledgment of the need for individualized exercise prescriptions, ideally with multidisciplinary input due to the heterogeneity in muscle diseases and patient capabilities.<br /><br />This document also delves into the challenges patients face in adhering to exercise programs, ranging from pain and fatigue to lack of accessible facilities. It discusses both patient and clinician factors influencing exercise participation and emphasizes the implementation of customized exercise plans in routine neuromuscular care as a priority. Finally, it stresses the importance of further research, particularly large-scale and molecular-level studies to refine exercise prescriptions for muscle disease management and integration with novel therapies.

Keywords

exercise

muscle diseases

myopathies

aerobic

resistance training

muscle strength

quality of life

individualized exercise

neuromuscular care

research