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Psychosocial impact of sport activity in neuromuscular disorders

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Abstract

Previous studies demonstrated the benefits of motor exercise and physical activity in neuromuscular disorders. However, very few papers assessed the effects of sport practise. The aim of this multicentre study was to assess the impact of sport activity on self-esteem and emotional regulation in a cohort of athletes with neuromuscular disorders. The 38 patients with Duchenne, Becker or other types of muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy practising sport (aged 13–49 years) and 39 age-, gender-, disability- and disease-matched patients not practising sport were enrolled. Testing procedures to assess self-esteem, anxiety and depression disorder, personality trait and quality of life (QoL) were used. Patients practising sport had a significantly higher self-esteem, lower level of depression, greater social own identity and adherence and QoL. Frequency of sport activity may represent a complementary therapy in neuromuscular disorders to improve mental and social well-being.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the patients who participated in this study and their families.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Gian Luca Vita and Claudia Stancanelli contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nemo Sud Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy

    Gian Luca Vita, Claudia Stancanelli, Stefania La Foresta, Cristina Faraone, Maria Sframeli & Giuseppe Vita

  2. Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Amanda Ferrero

  3. C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy

    Cinzia Fattore & Angela Berardinelli

  4. UILDM Lazio Onlus Rehabilitation Centre, Rome, Italy

    Rosy Galbo & Maria Elena Lombardo

  5. Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Manfredi Ferraro & Tiziana Mongini

  6. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Giulia Ricci & Gabriele Siciliano

  7. Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Unit of Neurology, ASST “Spedali Civili”, Brescia, Italy

    Stefano Cotti Piccinelli & Massimiliano Filosto

  8. Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Conegliano-Pieve di Soligo, Treviso, Italy

    Silvia Pizzighello & Andrea Martinuzzi

  9. Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Luca Padua

  10. Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Giuseppe Trimarchi

  11. Unit of Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Giuseppe Vita

Authors
  1. Gian Luca Vita
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  2. Claudia Stancanelli
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  3. Stefania La Foresta
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  4. Cristina Faraone
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  5. Maria Sframeli
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  6. Amanda Ferrero
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  7. Cinzia Fattore
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  8. Rosy Galbo
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  9. Manfredi Ferraro
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  10. Giulia Ricci
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  11. Stefano Cotti Piccinelli
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  14. Andrea Martinuzzi
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  15. Luca Padua
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  16. Giuseppe Trimarchi
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  17. Gabriele Siciliano
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  18. Tiziana Mongini
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  19. Maria Elena Lombardo
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  20. Angela Berardinelli
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  21. Giuseppe Vita
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Vita.

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Ethical approval

The ethics committee of all the participating centres reviewed and approved the study. All adult individuals and the parents of all patients under age 18 provided written, informed consent.

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Vita, G.L., Stancanelli, C., La Foresta, S. et al. Psychosocial impact of sport activity in neuromuscular disorders. Neurol Sci 41, 2561–2567 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04345-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04345-1

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