Best-practice guidance and management of pregnant and postpartum elite athletes and women in arduous occupations is limited by the lack of high-quality evidence available within these populations. We have summarized the adaptations and implications of pregnancy and childbirth, proposed a novel integrative concept to address these changes, and made recommendations to progress research in this area.

The purpose of this study was to present and compare pain between adult males with Duchenne (DMD), Becker’s (BMD), Limb-Girdle (LGMD) Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) forms of Muscular Dystrophy (MD), and healthy controls (CTRL), using three different methods of assessment. Pain was assessed using 1) a whole body visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, 2) a generalised body map and 3) a localised body map. All types of MD reported more VAS pain than CTRL, with 97% of all MD participants reporting pain; however, no differences were reported between types of MD. The generalised body map approach identified more frequent pain in the shoulders of FSHD (93%) than other groups (13–43%), hips of DMD (87%) and LGMD (75%) than other groups (0–29%), and legs of all MD (64–78%) than CTRL (25%). The localised body map approach identified common areas of frequent pain across types of MD, posterior distal leg and distal back, as well as condition specific regions of frequent pain, for example posterior trapezius in FSHD, and anterior hip pain in DMD and LGMD. Using a single pain value (VAS), increased pain was reported by adults with MD compared to CTRL, with no clear differences between different MD groups, suggesting pain is symptomatic of MD. The use of the generalised body map approach, and to an even greater extent the localised body map approach, identified specific areas of frequent pain relevant to each individual condition. These results indicate that whist the commonly used generalised approach can be used to identify broad anatomical regions, the localised approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of pain, reflective of clinical assessment, and should be utilised in future research.

Background: The inclusion of resistance training in the treatment and management of muscular dystrophy has previously been discouraged, based on mainly anecdotal evidence. There remains a lack of experimental investigation into resistance training in individuals with muscular dystrophy. The aim of the current study was therefore, to determine the effect of a 12-week resistance training programme on muscle strength and functional tasks in ambulatory adults with muscular dystrophy. Methods: Seventeen ambulatory adults with muscular dystrophy (Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: n = 6, Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy: n = 6, Becker muscular dystrophy: n = 5) were recruited for this study. Participants attended three testing sessions: one session at baseline, one session after a 12-week control period and one session after a 12-week resistance training period. Each testing session consisted of measurements of isometric knee extensor and knee flexor maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) torque (Cybex dynamometer). Participants also completed a timed sit-to-stand, a four steps-stair ascent, and a four steps-stair decent. The 12-week resistance training period consisted of two supervised sessions a week. Each training session included a 5-min warm-up, a step-up exercise, free-standing or assisted squats, knee flexion and knee extension exercises, and an additional 6 single-joint exercises specific to each individual's needs. Results: Knee flexor MVC torque increased by 13% after the 12-week resistance training programme (p < 0.05), with no change over the control period. Knee extensor MVC torque did not significantly change after the training programme or the control period. Time taken to complete sit-to-stand, stair ascent and stair descent all decreased (improved) following the 12-week training programme (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A twice-a-week, 12-week, resistance training programme resulted in increased knee flexion strength and improvements in functional tasks in ambulatory adults with muscular dystrophy. This provides support for the inclusion of resistance training in the treatment programmes for these forms of muscular dystrophy.

The aim of this study was to determine the response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in adult males with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and to investigate whether body composition contributes to any variance in the glucose response. Twenty-eight adult males with dystrophinopathy (BMD, n = 13; DMD, n = 15) and 12 non-dystrophic controls, ingested 75 g oral anhydrous glucose solution. Fingertip capillary samples were assessed for glucose at 30-min intervals over 2-h post glucose ingestion. Fat free mass relative to body mass (FFM/BM) and body fat (BF%) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Vastus lateralis muscle anatomical cross sectional area (VL ACSA) was measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Blood glucose was higher in MD groups than control at 60, 90 and 120 min post ingestion of glucose. Compared to controls, FFM/BM and VL ACSA were lower in MD groups compared to controls (p < 0.001). Glucose tolerance values at 120 min were correlated with FFM/BM and BF% in the BMD group only. Our results suggest that glucose tolerance is impaired following OGTT in adult males with BMD and DMD. It is recommended that adults with BMD and DMD undertake routine glucose tolerance assessments to allow early detection of impaired glucose tolerance.

Introduction: The assisted 6‐minute cycle test (A6MCT) distance was assessed in adults with muscular dystrophy (MD). Methods: Forty‐eight males, including those with Duchenne MD (DMD), limb‐girdle MD (LGMD), fascioscapulohumeral MD (FSHD), and Becker MD (BMD), as well as a group without MD (CTRL), completed handgrip strength (HGS), lung function [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC)], body fat, and biceps thickness assessments. During the A6MCT, ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide (VCO₂), and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Results: A6MCT and HGS were lower in MD than CTRL subjects. FEV₁, FVC, and biceps thickness were lower in MD than CTRL; lower in DMD than BMD, LGMD, and FSHD; but were not different between BMD, LGMD, and FSHD. A6MCT correlated with HGS, FEV₁, FVC, body fat, VO₂, VCO₂, HR, and VE (r = 0.455–0.708) in pooled BMD, LGMD, and FSHD participants. Discussion: A shorter A6MCT distance in adult males with MD was attributable to HGS and lung function. The A6MCT is appropriate for assessment of physical function in adults with MD. Muscle Nerve 58: 427–433, 2018

The prevalence of urinary incontinence in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (D/BMD) is reported to be between 15–29%, this however includes ages across the lifespan, and with no description of impact on daily life. The present study, aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in men with D/BMD, and to identify which aspects of daily life were impacted by urinary incontinence. Twenty-seven adult males, 11 with BMD and 16 with DMD, aged 20–57 years, volunteered to participate in this study. Six questionnaires were completed to provide an overview of participant mobility, urinary incontinence and distress caused by urinary incontinence. These included: The Barthel index of disability, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Form, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form, The Urogenital Distress Inventory, and the Brooke and Vignos scale. The prevalence of urinary incontinence within the present men with D/BMD was 37%, assessed as urine leakage of once a week or more. Those with urinary incontinence all reported only a “small amount” of urine leakage, with urinary incontinence frequency of once a week in 5/10 participants, two or three times a week in 2/10 participants, and once a day in 3/10 participants. Of those with urinary incontinence 8/10 experienced some impact on their daily life from urine leakage including travel (4/10), social aspects (5/10), and emotional aspects (8/10). All participants with urinary incontinence were bothered by some aspect, including urine leakage (9/10), and frequent urination (4/10). In conclusion, 37% of the present men with D/BMD experience urinary incontinence on a weekly or daily basis and negatively impacted aspects of life related to travel, social and emotional wellbeing. Urine leakage, and frequent urination should be considered a meaningful problem by care providers, and discussed openly with those with D/BMD.