The Role of Moderate Aerobic Exercise as Determined by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in ALS

Table 1

Inclusion and exclusion criteria of the present study.

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Inclusion criteria

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Age between 18 and 90 years

Diagnosis of definite, probable, or probable laboratory supported ALS

Disease duration from first symptoms between 6 and 24 months

ALSFRS-R ≥ 30

FVC (% predicted) ≥ 70%

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Exclusion criteria

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Other medical conditions, like cardiac insufficiency and lung disorders or others conditions limiting exercise training

Heavy smoking habits with laboratorial evidence of significant bronchial constriction

Signs of associated dementia or psychiatric disorders

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Note. None of the patients were on tube feeding, invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation at admission of study protocol (1).