Muscular Dystrophy Muscle Preservation: A Comparative Systematic Review of Exercise and Cannabidiol (CBD)...

Area of Science:

• Neuromuscular Disorders
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Muscular dystrophy involves progressive muscle degeneration, lacking curative treatments.
• Non-pharmacologic strategies are crucial for maintaining muscle mass and function.
• Exercise therapy is standard; cannabidiol is an emerging experimental intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare exercise therapy and cannabidiol for muscle preservation in muscular dystrophy.
• To synthesize evidence on their efficacy and safety profiles.
• To identify potential synergistic mechanisms and future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature.
• Comparative analysis of exercise interventions (aerobic, resistance, functional) and cannabidiol supplementation.
• Evaluation of preclinical and clinical data regarding muscle mass and function.

Main Results:

• Exercise therapy demonstrates consistent, modest benefits in functional performance, endurance, and quality of life.
• Cannabidiol shows anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and myoprotective effects in animal models but lacks human data.
• Overlapping anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms suggest potential synergy, though untested.

Conclusions:

• Exercise therapy is the most evidence-supported approach for muscle preservation in muscular dystrophy.
• Cannabidiol supplementation requires further rigorous clinical investigation.
• Future research should focus on head-to-head trials and subtype-specific strategies.