Hornstein OP, Gall K, Salzer B, Rupprecht M
Gruppensport bei Neurodermitis - Klinische, psychometrische und hautphysiologische Studien: Controlled physical exercise in patients with chronic neurodermitis
Dt Z Sportmed. 1998: 49(2): 39-45.
The therapeutical efficacy of this voluntary adjuvant was evaluated by clinically governed prospective case-control studies (n = 49) followed up to 6 months after 3-4 weeks of hospitalisation. In a parallel study with the same inpatients we applied a battery of standardized psychometric measures in order to find out whether or not the patients' mental self-estimation and mood were improved by sports. In an independent third study we analysed changes of the cutaneously evoked thermoregulation examining 40 male and female inpatients after admitted hospitalisation and before discharge from the department.
A number of 20 inpatients and 20 healthy controls voluntarily underwent stand-bicycle endurance exercise (4 times/week, 3 weeks), whereas another 20 inpatients remained free of physical activities. In each trial we used two groups of inpatients who were treated the same clinical way except additional sports voluntarily done by the one group and refused by the other one.
The results proved evidence that controlled physical exercise, considering the patients' individual capacities, can improve both recovery of the neurodermitis and the patients' emotional condition. In contrast to most patients abstaining from exercise, the members of the sport group showed statistically significant amelioration of their mood condition. In the ergometrically trained inpatients we found a normalization of the initially disturbed thermoregulation, again in contrast to the majority of untrained patients exhibiting unchanged dys-response to warmth exposure.
Since reasonable physical exercise evidently enables patients to cope better with their neurodermitis, organized team sports should be offered such patients by sports clubs, provided that appropriate room facilities are available for adequate skin care and short resting after the training.
Sports Activities as an aid in the treatment of Patients with Neurodermatitis [ Details ]