Effects of spinal stabilization exercises on fatigue, muscular strength, respiratory functions and functional capacity of patients with myasthenia gravis

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of spinal stabilization exercise on fatigue, muscular strength, respiratory functions and functional capacity in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The patients who were in Stage II and III according to the MG Functional Assessment were included in the study which was designed as cross-over, randomized, single-blind research. 10 patients (four women and six men) attended the study. The patients in Group 1 were given spinal stabilization exercises for three days a week for six weeks and they were made to rest for four weeks, and then they went through a six-week home-based program consisting of respiratory exercises, calisthenics and mat exercises. The patients in Group 2 were given the six-week home-based program with the same content and they were made to rest for four weeks and then they went through spinal stabilization exercises for three days a week for six weeks. Assessments were made both at the beginning and end of the two exercise programs. In the assessments, the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale, dynamometric measurements, respiratory function test and six-minute walk test were used. It was found that spinal stabilization exercises and home-based program reduced fatigue and enhanced muscular strength and functional capacity (p<0.05). Only spinal stabilization exercises ensured improvement in the parameters FVC, FEV1 and SVC in the respiratory function tests (p<0.05). Comparison of both exercise approaches revealed that spinal stabilization exercises were more effective than the home-based program in all parameters (p<0.05). Based on the results, it was concluded that spinal stabilization exercises would make positive effects on fatigue, muscular strength, respiratory functions and functional capacity of MG patients in the appropriate stage and remission. Keywords: Myasthenia gravis, spinal stabilization exercises, home-based program, fatigue, muscular strength.