Article

OBJECTIVE: To explore exercise response in people with Huntington's disease (HD).
DESIGN: Experimental observational study with a randomly allocated subgroup
before/after interventional study. SETTING: Community. SUBJECTS: People with HD
(n=30) and a healthy comparator group (n=20). Thirteen people from the HD group
were randomly allocated to an exercise training program. MAIN MEASURES: Heart
rate (HR) and perceived exertion on the Borg-CR10 scale (RPE) during a submaximal
cycle ergometer exercise test (three minute unloaded and nine minute
65%-75%HRmaximum phase). Expired air and lactate measures were available for 8
people with HD during the exercise. INTERVENTION: A 12 week gym and home walking
exercise programme (n=13). RESULTS: People with HD achieved a lower work rate at
nine minutes (82+/-42(0-195) v 107+/-35(50 -185) Watts (p<0.05)), but higher RPE
at both three (3+/-2(0-7) v 1+/-1(0-4)) and nine minutes (7+/-3(1-10) v 5+/-
2(2-9)) both p<0.01, compared to the healthy group and did not achieve a steady
state HR during unloaded cycling. People with HD also demonstrated higher than
expected lactate at three 2.5+/-2.5(1.1-8)mmo.L-1 and nine
3.8+/-1.9(1.2-6.6)mmo.L-1 minutes and respiratory exchange ratio at three
0.78+/-0.03 (0.74-0.81) and nine minutes 0.94+/-0.11(0.81-1.15). After exercise
training there were no changes observed in HR or RPE responses during the
exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: There was a large variability in the observed
metabolic and physiological responses to exercise in people with HD. The observed
exercise responses suggest that altered exercise prescription parameters may be
required for people with HD and that exercise response and factors' affecting
this requires further investigation.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS