Effect of Exercise Intervention on Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is a common muscular dystrophy. The facial muscles, shoulder girdles, and upper arms are notably affected.1 A common presenting symptom is asymmetrical scapular winging and further symptoms may include but are not limited to: loss of pectoral muscles, fatigue, severe pain, pathologic spinal curvatures, and foot drop.2 It is a particularly debilitating muscular dystrophy, with 20% of people >50 y.o. requiring a wheelchair.3 With no approved therapeutics, patients are managed symptomatically.3 This review sought to determine the effect of different exercise interventions on patients with FSHD. It is hypothesized that exercise may prevent need for assistive devices and increase patient quality of life. A literature review was conducted with search across PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science and Embase, with 15 articles selected from the results. All three forms of training, aerobic, strength, and anaerobic, were found to have positive effects on patients with FSHD. Positive effects of aerobic and strength training interventions include reduced levels of fatigue, increased oxygen uptake, improved muscle strength, and functional improvements in fitness, walking speed, and other functional tasks.1-3,6-7 In addition, neither aerobic nor strength training resulted in any signs of further muscle damage.2-3,11 Notably less research has been conducted on the impacts of HIIT or other forms of anaerobic training on patients with FSHD. Further research should be performed to determine the specifically most optimal routine for these patients in addition to further evaluation of the effects of anaerobic exercise.