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Effects of a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program in people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

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Abstract

Purpose

Exercise training and social support have been reported to counteract the disabling symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to pilot test a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program, performed in pairs, on functional abilities, fatigue, and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) in people with MS.

Methods

Eight patients with MS aged between 35 and 59 years were involved in a pre–post-pilot study. The intervention consisted of 20 combined aerobic and strength training sessions carried out by two participants simultaneously over a 7-week period. The Functional Independence Measure was used to assess activity limitation, and the Short Form-36 to evaluate the HRQOL. Fatigue perceptions were assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Fatigue Descriptive Scale (FDS). Overall, peak oxygen consumption test, 6-Minute Waking Test, T25-Foot Walk, and 9-Hole Peg Test were administered to evaluate functional abilities.

Results

Role-physical and Vitality HRQOL subscales significantly increased by 120 % (p = 0.026) and by 33.85 % (p = 0.012), respectively, over the training. Fatigue perception significantly decreased in both the scales: FDS changed by −12.20 % (p = 0.049) and FSS by −12.85 % (p = 0.034). No changes were reported for functional measures over the training period.

Conclusions

The full adherence of participants and the absence of detrimental effects sustain the feasibility of the training program. Findings suggest possible beneficial effects of a combined exercise program with social support on HRQOL and fatigue.

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Abbreviations

MS:

Multiple sclerosis

HRQOL:

Health-related quality-of-life

EDSS:

Expanded Disability Status Scale

FIM:

Functional Independence Measure

FSS:

Fatigue Severity Scale

FDS:

Fatigue Descriptive Scale

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, via F. Marzolo 3, 35131, Padua, Italy

    Erica Gobbi & Attilio Carraro

Authors
  1. Erica Gobbi
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  2. Attilio Carraro
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Correspondence to Erica Gobbi.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest relating to the publication of this manuscript.

Ethical statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Padua research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Gobbi, E., Carraro, A. Effects of a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program in people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Sport Sci Health 12, 437–442 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0310-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0310-0

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