Table 5.
Study characteristics of included cohort studies and randomized parallel group trials
| Author, year |
Study population N (f/m), MS phenotype (R/S/P), Age (y), EDSS, DD (y) |
AAN Class |
MS-specific outcome (primary/secondary) |
Fitness/activity outcome (assessment) |
Intervention | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohort studies | |||||||
| Bahmani, 2018 | 18 (15/3), R, 34.29 y (3.21), EDSS 2.05 (1.78), DD newly diagnosed | IV | EDSS (NR) | PA level (IPAQ, short version) | Two-year follow-up activity measurement | EDSS associated with walking time as sub-domain (r = − 0.63) | |
| Block, 2019 | 79 (30/49), R/P, 50.3 y (13.7), 4.0, EDSS (2.5–6.0)a, DD 13 y (5.5–20.5)a | IV | EDSS (NR) | Daily step count (Fitbit®) | One-year follow-up activity measurement | EDSS associated with average daily step count (β = − 22.35) | |
| Ertekin, 2012 | 31 (16/15), R/S/P, 43.6 y (8.2), EDSS 4.62 (1.29), DD 1–10 y n = 21/ > 10 y n = 10 | IV | EDSS (NR) | Not assessed | 12 weeks 5x/week 20-25 min progressive strength and balance exercise | n.s. | |
| Ertekin, 2013 | 17 (13/4), R/S/P, 45.2 y (8.6), EDSS 4.9 (1.7), DD 1–10 y n = 7/ > 10 n = 10 | IV | EDSS (NR) | Not assessed | 12 weeks 3/week 35-40 min progressive strength, balance, coordination & functional exercises | n.s | |
| Konečný, 2010 | 15 (12/3), R/S/P, 50.7 y (13.1), EDSS 2.8 (0.7), DD 15.7 y (14.4) | IV | EDSS (NR) | Aerobic capacity (CPET on a bicycle ergometer), strength (1RM) | 8 weeks 2x/week combined cycling (20-40 min week 1–2, 25 min week 3–8) and resistance training (15-20 min) | n.s | |
| Shammas, 2014 | 11 (7/4), R, S, P, 41 y (9.3), EDSS 3.6 (1.66), DD 12.18 y (10.67) | IV | EDSS (NR) | PA level (MOVE II® triaxial accelerometer) | Activity measurement (one-year period), 10 days every three months | EDSS associated with total step count (r = − 0.54) | |
| Stuart, 2020 | 56 (30/26), S, P, 53.8 y (8.0), EDSS 5.7 (1.3), DD 12.2 y (8.6) | IV | Brain volume change, EDSS (NR) | PA level composite score (SenseWear®Armband) | Activity measurement (2.5-year period), 6 days every six months | Annual percentage brain volume change associated with annual change in PA composite score (r = 0.357) | |
| Randomized parallel group trials | |||||||
| Velikonja, 2010 | Sports climbing | Yoga | IV | EDSS pyramidal function score (NR) | Not assessed | 10 weeks 1x/week (min NR) sports climbing or Yoga | ↓ EDSS pyramidal function score within the Sports climbing group |
| 10, R/S/P, 42 y, EDSS 4, DD NR | 10, R/S/P, 41 y, EDSS 4.2, DD NR | ||||||
Data presented as mean (SD) unless otherwise noted
β: Beta regression coefficient, ↑: increased, AAN American Academy of Neurology, CPET cardiopulmonary exercise testing, DD disease duration, EDSS expanded disability status scale, f female, IPAQ International Physical Activity Questionnaire, m male, MS multiple sclerosis, n.s. no significant, NR not reported, P primary progressive MS, PA physical activity, R relapsing–remitting MS, RM repetition maximum, r correlation coefficient, S secondary progressive MS, y years
aMedian (IQR)
bRange