Short-term effects of aerobic exercise on functional capacity,fatigue,and quality of life in patients with post-polio syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and compare the impact of hospital and home exercise programmes on aerobic capacity, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with post-polio syndrome.

Design: A prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital. Subjects: Thirty-two patients were divided into two groups for either hospital- or home-based aerobic exercise programme.

Main outcome measures: Patients were assessed before and after the rehabilitation programme, with respect to functional capacity (pVo₂), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale, Fatigue Impact Scale) and quality of life (Nottingham Heath Profile).

Results: After the exercise programme, improvement was observed in the hospital exercise group compared to a pre-exercise period in all Nottingham Heath Profile scores (except sleep scores), pVo₂, Fatigue Severity Scale and Fatigue Impact Scale (cognitive, physical, psychosocial, total) (P<0.05). In contrast, in the home exercise group a decrease was observed in pVo₂ scores after the rehabilitation programme, compared to a pre-rehabilitation period (P<0.05). In addition, a significant improvement was observed in the home exercise group after the rehabilitation programme in all parameters excluding Fatigue Impact Scale—physical, Fatigue Impact Scale—psychosocial, and Nottingham Heath Profile—sleep (P<0.05). When the two exercise groups were compared, improvement was observed in the hospital exercise group compared to the home exercise group in pVo₂ and Fatigue Severity Scale—total, Fatigue Impact Scale—physical, Fatigue Impact Scale—psychosocial, Fatigue Impact Scale—total, and Nottingham Heath Profile—energy scores (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Fatigue and quality of life were both improved in the home and hospital exercise groups. An increase was also found in the functional capacity in the hospital exercise group. A regular exercise programme is beneficial to patients with post-polio syndrome.

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