Response to aerobic exercise training in humans with neuromuscular disease.

There have been few studies examining the response of persons with neuromuscular disease and postpolio syndrome to cardiopulmonary testing and aerobic exercise training. In persons with neuromuscular disease that directly involves the cardiac and respiratory systems, deficits in performance may be primarily due to these limitations, along with loss of functional muscle tissue from the disease process. In the more slowly progressive disorders, deconditioning may play an important role in limiting aerobic exercise performance and may be amenable to training. Recommendations are provided for future exercise studies with these populations.