Public Digital Defence: Anita Grongstad

MSc Anita Grongstad at Institute of Health and Society will be defending the thesis “Sarcoidosis; fatigue and exercise” for the degree of PhD (Philosophiae Doctor).

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Photo: Studio OSCAR as.

The public defence will be held as a video conference over Zoom.


The public defence will follow regular procedure as far as possible, hence it will be open to the public and the audience can ask ex auditorio questions when invited to do so.

Click here to participate in the public defence

Download Zoom here

Due to copyright reasons, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. In order for the faculty to have time to process the order, it must be received by the faculty no later than 2 days prior to the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. Inquiries regarding the thesis after the public defence must be addressed to the candidate.

 

Digital Trial Lecture – time and place

See Digital Trial Lecture.

Adjudication committee

  • First opponent: Professor Rik Gosselink, KU Leuven, Department Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
  • Second opponent: Professor Rembert Kozculla, Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Germany
  • Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Emerita Ingrid Os, University of Oslo

Chair of the Defence

Professor II Jonny Hisdal, University of Oslo

Principal Supervisor

 Anne Edvardsen, Avdelingssjef LHL-klinikkene

Summary

Fatigue is the most common symptom amongst patients with sarcoidosis. As reduced exercise capacity and muscle strength is highly prevalent as well, exercise training is recommended.

Since the impact of high-intensity exercise training on fatigue in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis has not been explored, moderate intensity exercise training has commonly been used. But will high-intensity exercise worsen fatigue?

The aims of the thesis were to investigate the impact of one single session of high-intensity compared to one single session of moderate-intensity on fatigue, for both endurance and resistance training using a cross-over design. Thereafter, to evaluate the impact on fatigue and exercise capacity (VO2peak) following a 4-week pulmonary rehabilitation program using a one group pre-post design.

There was no significantly difference in fatigue following one single session of high-intensity versus moderate-intensity endurance exercise training. A statistically significant increase in fatigue was seen immediately after the moderate-intensity resistance training session compared to the high-intensity session. However, the fatigue development did not reach a clinically relevant level.

Four weeks pulmonary rehabilitation improved exercise capacity (p = 0.002) and decreased fatigue (p = 0.009) significantly. Interestingly, patients with a higher level of baseline fatigue showed a larger improvement in exercise capacity following four weeks rehabilitation.

Overall, both high-intensity endurance and resistance training appears to be well tolerated by patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis without worsening fatigue. Further, four weeks rehabilitation improved exercise capacity and decreased fatigue, where a high baseline fatigue score was related to a higher improvement in exercise capacity.

The results will provide physiotherapists and patients with sarcoidosis reassuring knowledge that exercise training with high-intensity is well tolerated and does not worsen fatigue. 

Additional information

Contact the research support staff.

Published Jan. 19, 2021 11:11 AM - Last modified Feb. 3, 2021 9:32 AM