TY - JOUR
T1 - Aerobic Exercise Training in Post-Polio Syndrome: Process Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial
T2 - Process evaluation of a randomized controlled trial
AU - Voorn, Eric L.
AU - Koopman, Fieke S.
AU - Brehm, Merel A.
AU - Beelen, Anita
AU - de Haan, Arnold
AU - Gerrits, Karin H. L.
AU - Nollet, Frans
PY - 2016/7/15
Y1 - 2016/7/15
N2 - To explore reasons for the lack of efficacy of a high intensity aerobic exercise program in post-polio syndrome (PPS) on cardiorespiratory fitness by evaluating adherence to the training program and effects on muscle function. A process evaluation using data from an RCT. Forty-four severely fatigued individuals with PPS were randomized to exercise therapy (n = 22) or usual care (n = 22). Participants in the exercise group were instructed to exercise 3 times weekly for 4 months on a bicycle ergometer (60-70% heart rate reserve). The attendance rate was high (median 89%). None of the participants trained within the target heart rate range during >75% of the designated time. Instead, participants exercised at lower intensities, though still around the anaerobic threshold (AT) most of the time. Muscle function did not improve in the exercise group. Our results suggest that severely fatigued individuals with PPS cannot adhere to a high intensity aerobic exercise program on a cycle ergometer. Despite exercise intensities around the AT, lower extremity muscle function nor cardiorespiratory fitness improved. Improving the aerobic capacity in PPS is difficult through exercise primarily focusing on the lower extremities, and may require a more individualized approach, including the use of other large muscle groups instead. Netherlands National Trial Register NTR1371
AB - To explore reasons for the lack of efficacy of a high intensity aerobic exercise program in post-polio syndrome (PPS) on cardiorespiratory fitness by evaluating adherence to the training program and effects on muscle function. A process evaluation using data from an RCT. Forty-four severely fatigued individuals with PPS were randomized to exercise therapy (n = 22) or usual care (n = 22). Participants in the exercise group were instructed to exercise 3 times weekly for 4 months on a bicycle ergometer (60-70% heart rate reserve). The attendance rate was high (median 89%). None of the participants trained within the target heart rate range during >75% of the designated time. Instead, participants exercised at lower intensities, though still around the anaerobic threshold (AT) most of the time. Muscle function did not improve in the exercise group. Our results suggest that severely fatigued individuals with PPS cannot adhere to a high intensity aerobic exercise program on a cycle ergometer. Despite exercise intensities around the AT, lower extremity muscle function nor cardiorespiratory fitness improved. Improving the aerobic capacity in PPS is difficult through exercise primarily focusing on the lower extremities, and may require a more individualized approach, including the use of other large muscle groups instead. Netherlands National Trial Register NTR1371
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159280
DO - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159280
M3 - Article
C2 - 27419388
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 11
SP - e0159280
JO - PLOS ONE
JF - PLOS ONE
IS - 7
M1 - e0159280
ER -