Is Exercise Training Beneficial in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis?

BACKGROUND: There is substantial evidence for the benefits of exercise training in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). These benefits, however, have primarily been established in the early, relapsing disease phase or are derived from heterogeneous MS samples (ie, relapsing and progressive MS). This makes it challenging to determine whether the consequences of exercise training are similar in the relapsing and progressive disease courses. The role of exercise training in progressive MS is far less clear. This study examined the potential role of exercise training in people with progressive MS.
METHODS: We review the current evidence from studies examining conventional exercise training modalities (eg, cycle ergometry) as well as specialized exercise training approaches (eg, functional electrical stimulation cycling) in samples involving exclusively individuals with progressive MS.
RESULTS: The evidence reviewed from nine trials provides preliminary support for the benefits of exercise training with regard to fitness, symptom, and quality of life outcomes in progressive MS, although these data are currently limited and at times conflicting.
CONCLUSIONS: Considering the prevalence of progressive MS (ie, 1 million people worldwide), the lack of effective treatment options, and the considerable frustration of researchers, clinicians, and patients, we believe that exercise training represents a viable therapeutic option worthy of further consideration. Future research should involve well-designed, randomized clinical trials with appropriate sample sizes and control conditions to establish the safety, feasibility, and therapeutic efficacy of exercise training in progressive MS.