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Exercise and the multidisciplinary holistic approach to adolescent dysautonomia
Author(s) -
Armstrong KR,
De Souza AM,
Sneddon PL,
Potts JE,
Claydon VE,
Sanatani S
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13750
Subject(s) - medicine , psychosocial , physical therapy , quality of life (healthcare) , dysautonomia , multidisciplinary approach , pediatrics , disease , psychiatry , nursing , social science , sociology
Aim To determine whether an eight‐week strength training programme as part of a multidisciplinary approach would minimise symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with dysautonomia. Methods Adolescents referred to a tertiary‐level cardiology service from May 2014–December 2015 with symptoms of dysautonomia were eligible. Participants completed an exercise test and a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (Peds QL ) prior to the intervention. Participants were asked to complete exercises five times per week. After eight weeks, participants returned for follow‐up testing. Parents completed a proxy report of their child's QoL at both time points. Results A total of 17 participants completed the study protocol with an adherence rate of up to 50%. Post‐intervention, QoL scores improved across all levels in the participants [total 65.2 (50.4–74.7) vs 48.9 (37.5–63.0); p = 0.006; psychosocial 65.8 (56.1–74.6) vs 50.0 (41.7–65.8); p = 0.010; physical 62.5 (37.5–76.6) vs 43.8 (25–68.5); p = 0.007] and their parent proxy reports [total 63.5 (48.7–81.3) vs 50.0 (39.3–63.0); p = 0.004; psychosocial 62.1 (52.1–81.3) vs 50.0 (39.6–59.2); p = 0.001; physical 62.5 (51.6–80.0) vs 50.0 (27.5–70.3); p = 0.003]. Treadmill time also improved (9.1 vs 8.0 minutes; p = 0.005). Conclusion Following an eight‐week strength training programme, dysautonomia patients report a significant improvement in both their quality of life and endurance time.