Improving physical fitness in neuromuscular diseases

Physical inactivity is common among people with neuromuscular diseases due to symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and pain. Inactivity reduces physical fitness and is assumed to negatively impact on general health, daily functioning, and societal participation. This thesis showed that aerobic exercise in combination with coaching is safe and improves physical fitness in people with neuromuscular diseases. We advocate the (further) implementation of physical activity programs to improve the physical fitness in people with neuromuscular diseases and motivate to shift the focus on efficacy and safety of specific exercise programs to how exercise and physical activity can be initiated, motivated, monitored, and, most importantly, integrated into daily living.