Effect of low intensity aerobic cycle ergometer on maximal walking speed and cadence of myasthenia gravis patients

Abstract

Background and objectives. MG is associated with muscle weakness which induces fatigue. This condition interferes with patients’ ability to pursue activities of daily living and could cause many complications such as decrement in walking and depression. Though rehabilitation has been proved to reduce symptoms, the optimal dosage of the rehabilitation program is still debatable due to lack of high-quality evidence. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of aerobic cycle ergometer on maximal walking speed, cadence and fatigue of MG patients. Materials and methods. This randomized control group study was conducted to 20 Myasthenia Gravis patients with MGFA classification I until IIb. 10 meter walking test was used to assess maximal walking speed, 1 minute walking test was used to assess cadence, while Fatigue Severity Scale was used to measure fatigue. Measurement was done before and after 8 weeks of exercise. Paired t-test is used to analyze within group variables, and independent t test to evaluate between-group analysis. Results. There was improvement on maximal walking speed, cadence and fatigue at intervention group with large effect size (CI 95%, p = 0,05), even though the results didn’t differ statistically between groups. Conclusion. There is improvement of maximal walking speed, cadence and fatigue of Myasthenia Gravis patients after exercising using low intensity aerobic cycle ergometer.

Keywords

• aerobic exercise
• cadence
• fatigue
• myasthenia gravis
• walking speed