Purpose: haemophilia, a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency in clotting factors, often leads to musculoskeletal complications such as arthropathy, which reduces function and can induce kinesiophobia. regular physical activity, as recommended by the world federation of haemophilia, supports musculoskeletal health, coordination, weight control and psychological well-being. this study explores the safety and the changes in functional capacity, strength, and balance following a 6-month adapted exercise program in adults with haemophilia. methods: the study employed a single-arm, within-subjects design with assessments at baseline (t0) and two follow-ups at 3 months (t1) and 6 months (t2); during the period between t0 and t2, participants completed a twice-weekly, individually tailored adapted exercise program supervised by qualified specialists. functional capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test (6mwt). perceived fatigue and dyspnea were recorded after each 6mwt using the borg scales, respectively. secondary outcomes included the 30-s chair stand test (3000cst) to assess lower-limb strength, the single-leg stance test (slst) for static balance, and the timed up and go (tug) test for dynamic balance. adverse events were monitored by the research team using a dedicated register. data were analyzed using nonparametric tests: the shapiro–wilk test assessed normality; the friedman test evaluated repeated measures, with wilcoxon signed-rank tests and bonferroni correction for post hoc comparisons (p<0.05). results: after a six-month intervention period, participants exhibited significant improvements in functional capacity and balance, while tug performance remained unchanged. the most noteworthy improvements were observed in the 6mwt distance (v2 = 17.64, p<0.001), with moderate but significant reductions in perceived dyspnea (p = 0.003) and fatigue (p = 0.015) recorded after each test. additional advancements were noted in lower-limb strength, as measured by the 3000cst (v2 = 11.44, p = 0.003), and in static balance, with significant gains in slst time on both the dominant (v2 = 12.05, p = 0.002) and non-dominant leg (v2 = 16.05, p<0.001). no adverse events were recorded during the exercise program period. conclusions: this study supports the safety of a 6-month supervised adapted exercise program for adults with haemophilia. the absence of adverse events further reinforces the safety of such interventions in this population. significant improvements were observed in functional capacity, lower-limb strength, and balance, along with reduced perceived fatigue and dyspnea. despite the single-arm design and small sample, findings endorse adapted exercise as a safe, effective adjunct in haemophilia care, in line with systematic reviews on resistance and aerobic benefits.
Safety and functional benefits of a 6-month adapted exercise program in adults with haemophilia
Zinno R.;
2025
Abstract
Purpose: haemophilia, a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency in clotting factors, often leads to musculoskeletal complications such as arthropathy, which reduces function and can induce kinesiophobia. regular physical activity, as recommended by the world federation of haemophilia, supports musculoskeletal health, coordination, weight control and psychological well-being. this study explores the safety and the changes in functional capacity, strength, and balance following a 6-month adapted exercise program in adults with haemophilia. methods: the study employed a single-arm, within-subjects design with assessments at baseline (t0) and two follow-ups at 3 months (t1) and 6 months (t2); during the period between t0 and t2, participants completed a twice-weekly, individually tailored adapted exercise program supervised by qualified specialists. functional capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test (6mwt). perceived fatigue and dyspnea were recorded after each 6mwt using the borg scales, respectively. secondary outcomes included the 30-s chair stand test (3000cst) to assess lower-limb strength, the single-leg stance test (slst) for static balance, and the timed up and go (tug) test for dynamic balance. adverse events were monitored by the research team using a dedicated register. data were analyzed using nonparametric tests: the shapiro–wilk test assessed normality; the friedman test evaluated repeated measures, with wilcoxon signed-rank tests and bonferroni correction for post hoc comparisons (p<0.05). results: after a six-month intervention period, participants exhibited significant improvements in functional capacity and balance, while tug performance remained unchanged. the most noteworthy improvements were observed in the 6mwt distance (v2 = 17.64, p<0.001), with moderate but significant reductions in perceived dyspnea (p = 0.003) and fatigue (p = 0.015) recorded after each test. additional advancements were noted in lower-limb strength, as measured by the 3000cst (v2 = 11.44, p = 0.003), and in static balance, with significant gains in slst time on both the dominant (v2 = 12.05, p = 0.002) and non-dominant leg (v2 = 16.05, p<0.001). no adverse events were recorded during the exercise program period. conclusions: this study supports the safety of a 6-month supervised adapted exercise program for adults with haemophilia. the absence of adverse events further reinforces the safety of such interventions in this population. significant improvements were observed in functional capacity, lower-limb strength, and balance, along with reduced perceived fatigue and dyspnea. despite the single-arm design and small sample, findings endorse adapted exercise as a safe, effective adjunct in haemophilia care, in line with systematic reviews on resistance and aerobic benefits.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
