TY - JOUR
T1 - Safety and efficacy of progressive resistance exercise for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in children
T2 - a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial
AU - Burns, Joshua
AU - Sman, Amy D.
AU - Cornett, Kayla M.D.
AU - Wojciechowski, Elizabeth
AU - Walker, Terri
AU - Menezes, Manoj P.
AU - Mandarakas, Melissa R.
AU - Rose, Kristy J.
AU - Bray, Paula
AU - Sampaio, Hugo
AU - Farrar, Michelle
AU - Refshauge, Kathryn M.
AU - Raymond, Jacqueline
AU - FAST Study Group
AU - Baldwin, Jennifer
AU - McKay, Marnee J.
AU - Mudge, Anita
AU - Purcell, Leanne
AU - Miller, Clare
AU - Gray, Kelly
AU - Harman, Meghan
AU - Gabrael, Natalie
AU - Ouvrier, Robert A.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - Background Exercise is potentially therapeutic for neuromuscular disorders, but a risk of harm exists due to overwork weakness. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of progressive resistance exercise for foot dorsiflexion weakness in children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Methods We did this randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (NSW, Australia). Children aged 6–17 years with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease were eligible if they had foot dorsiflexion weakness (negative Z score based on age-matched and sex-matched normative reference values). We randomly allocated (1:1) children, with random block sizes of 4, 6, and 8 and stratification by age, to receive 6 months (three times per week on non-consecutive days; 72 sessions in total) of progressive resistance training (from 50% to 70% of the most recent one repetition maximum) or sham training (negligible non-progressed intensity), using an adjustable exercise cuff to exercise the dorsiflexors of each foot. The primary efficacy outcome was the between-group difference in dorsiflexion strength assessed by hand-held dynamometry (expressed as a Z score) from baseline to months 6, 12, and 24. The primary safety outcome was the between-group difference in muscle and intramuscular fat volume of the anterior compartment of the lower leg assessed by MRI (expressed as a scaled volume) from baseline to 6 months and 24 months. Participants, parents, outcome evaluators, and investigators other than the treatment team were masked to treatment assignment. Analysis was by intention to treat. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12613000552785. Findings From Sept 2, 2013, to Dec 11, 2014, we randomly assigned 60 children to receive progressive resistance exercise (n=30) or sham training (n=30), and 55 (92%) children completed the trial. ANCOVA-adjusted Z score differences in dorsiflexion strength between groups were 0 (95% CI −0·37 to 0·42; p=0·91) at 6 months, 0·3 (−0·23 to 0·81; p=0·27) at 12 months, and 0·6 (95% CI 0·03 to 1·12; p=0·041) at 24 months. Scaled muscle and fat volume was comparable between groups at 6 months (ANCOVA-adjusted muscle volume difference 0, 95% CI −0·03 to 0·10, p=0·24; and fat volume difference 0, 95% CI −0·01 to 0·05, p=0·25) and 24 months (0, −0·08 to 0·12, p=0·67; and 0, −0·05 to 0·03, p=0·58). No serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation 6 months of targeted progressive resistance exercise attenuated long-term progression of dorsiflexion weakness without detrimental effect on muscle morphology or other signs of overwork weakness in paediatric patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Funding Muscular Dystrophy Association and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
AB - Background Exercise is potentially therapeutic for neuromuscular disorders, but a risk of harm exists due to overwork weakness. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of progressive resistance exercise for foot dorsiflexion weakness in children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Methods We did this randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (NSW, Australia). Children aged 6–17 years with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease were eligible if they had foot dorsiflexion weakness (negative Z score based on age-matched and sex-matched normative reference values). We randomly allocated (1:1) children, with random block sizes of 4, 6, and 8 and stratification by age, to receive 6 months (three times per week on non-consecutive days; 72 sessions in total) of progressive resistance training (from 50% to 70% of the most recent one repetition maximum) or sham training (negligible non-progressed intensity), using an adjustable exercise cuff to exercise the dorsiflexors of each foot. The primary efficacy outcome was the between-group difference in dorsiflexion strength assessed by hand-held dynamometry (expressed as a Z score) from baseline to months 6, 12, and 24. The primary safety outcome was the between-group difference in muscle and intramuscular fat volume of the anterior compartment of the lower leg assessed by MRI (expressed as a scaled volume) from baseline to 6 months and 24 months. Participants, parents, outcome evaluators, and investigators other than the treatment team were masked to treatment assignment. Analysis was by intention to treat. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12613000552785. Findings From Sept 2, 2013, to Dec 11, 2014, we randomly assigned 60 children to receive progressive resistance exercise (n=30) or sham training (n=30), and 55 (92%) children completed the trial. ANCOVA-adjusted Z score differences in dorsiflexion strength between groups were 0 (95% CI −0·37 to 0·42; p=0·91) at 6 months, 0·3 (−0·23 to 0·81; p=0·27) at 12 months, and 0·6 (95% CI 0·03 to 1·12; p=0·041) at 24 months. Scaled muscle and fat volume was comparable between groups at 6 months (ANCOVA-adjusted muscle volume difference 0, 95% CI −0·03 to 0·10, p=0·24; and fat volume difference 0, 95% CI −0·01 to 0·05, p=0·25) and 24 months (0, −0·08 to 0·12, p=0·67; and 0, −0·05 to 0·03, p=0·58). No serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation 6 months of targeted progressive resistance exercise attenuated long-term progression of dorsiflexion weakness without detrimental effect on muscle morphology or other signs of overwork weakness in paediatric patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Funding Muscular Dystrophy Association and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031091351&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S2352-4642(17)30013-5
DO - 10.1016/S2352-4642(17)30013-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 30169201
AN - SCOPUS:85031091351
SN - 2352-4642
VL - 1
SP - 106
EP - 113
JO - The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
JF - The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
IS - 2
ER -