| Methods |
RCT. Random assignment to exercise (EX) or non‐exercise (NEX) groups |
| Participants |
N = 11EX: N = 6, NEX: N = 5
Inclusion criteria: EDDS score of 6.0 or less, stable disease process within the last 6 weeks, able to walk for 4 minutes, full understanding of written and spoken English
Exclusion criteria: acute exacerbation of MS, ongoing corticosteroid therapy, other significant medical conditions
Type MS: Relapsing‐remitting or secondary‐progressive MS
Disease duration (yr) ± SD (range): EX: 4.6 ± 1.4 (1‐14), NEX: 13.8 ± 1.0 (12‐18)
Mean age (yr) ± SD (range): EX: 41 ± 3.2 (23‐55), NEX: 44 ± 2.8 (37‐53)
% female: EX: 50%, NEX: 67%
Mean EDSS‐score ± SD: EX: 3.7 (2.0‐5.5), NEX: 3.4 (2.5‐5.0) |
| Interventions |
Outpatient supervised general aerobic, strengthening and flexibility exercise sessions.Twice a week for a period of 12 weeks. In addition, subjects were encouraged to undertake one further unsupervised session per week
Subjects in the non‐exercise group were asked to maintain their normal activity level. |
| Outcomes |
PCI and QMA of muscle force in lower limbs. Assessments at baseline and after 12 weeks. |
| Notes |
Drop outs: Not when the study started , however 2 subjects were not entered due to 1 having severe hypertension and 1 developing abdominal cancer
Trial presented at the World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2003 in Barcelona. Article will be submitted for publication |
