TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of aerobic training on walking capacity and maximal exercise tolerance in patients with multiple sclerosis
T2 - A randomized crossover controlled study
AU - Rampello, Anais
AU - Franceschini, Marco
AU - Piepoli, Massimo
AU - Antenucci, Roberto
AU - Lenti, Gabriella
AU - Olivieri, Dario
AU - Chetta, Alfredo
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Background and Purpose: Physical deconditioning is involved in the impaired exercise tolerance of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but data on the effects of aerobic training (AT) in this population are scanty. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an 8-week AT program on exercise capacity-in terms of walking capacity and maximum exercise tolerance, as well as its effects on fatigue and health-related quality of life-as compared with neurological rehabilitation (NR) in subjects with MS, Subjects and Methods: Nineteen subjects (14 female, 5 male; mean age [X̄±SD]=41±8 years) with mild to moderate disability secondary to MS participated in a randomized crossover controlled study. Eleven subjects (8 female, 3 male; mean age [X̄±SD]=44±6 years) completed the study. Results: After AT, but not NR, the subjects' walking distances and speeds during a self-paced walk were significantly improved, as were their maximum work rate, peak oxygen uptake, and oxygen pulse during cardiopulmonary exercise tests. The increases in peak oxygen uptake and maximum work rate, but not in walking capacity, were significantly higher after AT, as compared with after NR. Additionally, the subjects who were most disabled tended to benefit more from AT. There were no differences between AT and NR in effects on fatigue, and the results showed that AT may have partially affected health-related quality of life. Discussion and Conclusion: The results suggest that AT is more effective than NR in improving maximum exercise tolerance and walking capacity in people with mild to moderate disability secondary to MS.
AB - Background and Purpose: Physical deconditioning is involved in the impaired exercise tolerance of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but data on the effects of aerobic training (AT) in this population are scanty. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an 8-week AT program on exercise capacity-in terms of walking capacity and maximum exercise tolerance, as well as its effects on fatigue and health-related quality of life-as compared with neurological rehabilitation (NR) in subjects with MS, Subjects and Methods: Nineteen subjects (14 female, 5 male; mean age [X̄±SD]=41±8 years) with mild to moderate disability secondary to MS participated in a randomized crossover controlled study. Eleven subjects (8 female, 3 male; mean age [X̄±SD]=44±6 years) completed the study. Results: After AT, but not NR, the subjects' walking distances and speeds during a self-paced walk were significantly improved, as were their maximum work rate, peak oxygen uptake, and oxygen pulse during cardiopulmonary exercise tests. The increases in peak oxygen uptake and maximum work rate, but not in walking capacity, were significantly higher after AT, as compared with after NR. Additionally, the subjects who were most disabled tended to benefit more from AT. There were no differences between AT and NR in effects on fatigue, and the results showed that AT may have partially affected health-related quality of life. Discussion and Conclusion: The results suggest that AT is more effective than NR in improving maximum exercise tolerance and walking capacity in people with mild to moderate disability secondary to MS.
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U2 - 10.2522/ptj.20060085
DO - 10.2522/ptj.20060085
M3 - Article
C2 - 17405806
AN - SCOPUS:34247603909
VL - 87
SP - 545
EP - 555
JO - Physical Therapy
JF - Physical Therapy
SN - 0031-9023
IS - 5
ER -