![]() This study investigates the effect of treadmill training, designed to increase aerobic fitness, on walking performance and levels of fatigue in people with MS. ![]() 7 However, contemporary opinion is changing there is an increasing recognition that regular participation in aerobic exercise may benefit people with MS. 6 For many years such people limited their physical activity levels on the advice of physicians in an effort to help minimise the risk of exacerbations and symptoms of fatigue. 5įatigue is reported in 53–90% of people with MS. To date, there is no published evidence of the efficacy of treadmill training in individuals with MS, although some studies that incorporate treadmill training into rehabilitation programmes report positive outcomes with no harmful effects. 3 After stroke, treadmill training may improve gait speed and endurance, normalise gait patterns with greater symmetry, and increase general wellbeing. Treadmill training is a ‘task orientated' method of gait training that is highly repetitive and promotes a specific practice of walking. 1 Limited evidence suggests that aerobic exercise may be beneficial to people with MS. Walking may be limited by fatigue and lack of safety in walking, which can lead to an interruption of optimum physical functioning 1 that in turn can impact on quality of life. Restricted mobility and fatigue are common problems for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), 1 and 85% of individuals with MS report gait disturbance as their main complaint. A larger randomised clinical trial is warranted. Detraining occurred in the period following training. Walking speed and endurance increased following training with no increase in reported fatigue. This study showed that in individuals with MS, aerobic treadmill training is feasible and well tolerated. No significant changes in fatigue scores were found. In the training group, reassessed at week 12 after training ceased, there was a return towards baseline scores. The 2 minute walk distance significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05). On reassessment in week 7, decreases in 10 metre walk time were found in both groups, which was significant in the immediate group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in walking endurance between the delayed and immediate groups at baseline (p<0.05). Of the initial 19 recruits, 16 individuals completed the study. Treadmill training consisted of 4 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise delivered weeks 3–6 in the immediate group and 8–11 in the delayed group. After a pre‐assessment familiarisation session and a baseline assessment, individuals were randomly allocated to an initial intervention or delayed intervention group. ![]() Individuals were assessed at baseline, week 7 and 12 with a 10 metre timed walk, a 2 minute walk, the Rivermead Mobility Index, and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Individuals with MS were recruited to this prospective, randomised controlled trial. This pilot study investigated whether 4 weeks of aerobic treadmill training in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) improved mobility and reduced fatigue. ![]()
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