A new study has proven that patients who experience muscle symptoms due to statin therapy can safely engage in moderate-intensity physical activity without worsening skeletal muscle pain or damage. The study was targeted toward adults with documented statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) who participated in a four-day walk ranging from 30 to 50 km per day. The study found that moderate-intensity activity did not increase markers of injury or worsen muscle performance or statin-related symptoms. These findings offer reassurance to symptomatic statin-treated patients that they can safely engage in physical activity.
The lead investigator of the study, Neeltje AE Allard, MD, from Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, stated that it is crucial to combine physical activity with statin therapy in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. Some patients may be hesitant to exercise because they fear that their muscle symptoms will worsen, but this study proves that they can safely participate in moderate-intensity exercise without risking further damage to their muscles. The study not only proves that moderate-intensity exercise is safe when it comes to muscle damage, but it also has no negative effect on muscle performance.
Although statins effectively reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), some patients may experience muscle pain and weakness as a side effect. This may deter them from engaging in physical activity out of fear that it will worsen their symptoms. The concern, according to researchers, is that patients will either stop taking their medication or stop exercising altogether. This new study provides reassurance that patients with SAMS can safely engage in moderate-intensity physical activity.
The study included 100 participants, consisting of 35 statin users with SAMS, 34 who were taking statins but were asymptomatic, and 31 controls who were not taking statins. All individuals participated in the Nijmegen Four-Day March, an annual event that promotes physical activity. On each day of the event, participants walked either 30, 40, or 50 km, depending on their age and gender. Researchers took baseline measurements one or two days before the event and postexercise measurements on the first, second, or third day of the walk.
Exercise-induced muscle damage was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase, CK, cardiac troponin I, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. Results showed that mild to moderate physical activity did not increase markers of muscle damage or worsen muscle performance or statin-related symptoms in participants. Researchers found that moderate intensity endurance and resistance training can improve muscle performance and mitochondrial content in symptomatic statin users without increasing muscle complaints.
Handgrip strength decreased in all three groups after the walk, and other measures of muscle performance, such as maximal voluntary contraction and muscle oxygen consumption, were not different at baseline and decreased similarly in the three groups after moderate-intensity exercise. There was no significant difference between statin users with SAMS, those without symptoms, or the control group.
These findings suggest that many patients who develop SAMS can participate in a moderate-intensity walking program without concern for muscle damage or decreased muscle performance. Patients should not hesitate to engage in physical activity in combination with statin therapy to reduce the risk of ASCVD. Exercise remains an important component of restoring fitness to maintain health in people with ASCVD, particularly among those who have had a disabling event and those with ASCVD risk factors.
In conclusion, this new study proves that moderate-intensity physical activity is safe for patients with SAMS who are taking statins. Physical activity is crucial in combination with statin therapy to reduce the risk of ASCVD. Patients with SAMS should not fear engaging in physical activity due to the fear of worsening their muscle symptoms, as moderate-intensity exercise poses no threat to muscle performance or statin-related symptoms.
