title: Recovery of peripheral muscle function from fatiguing exercise and daily physical activity level in patients with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Delayed recovery of muscle function following exercise has been demonstrated in the lower limbs of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, studies examining this in the upper limbs are currently lacking. This study compared physical activity level (PAL) and recovery of upper limb muscle function following exercise between MS patients and healthy inactive controls. Furthermore, the relationship between PAL and muscle recovery was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  PAL of 19 MS patients and 32 controls was measured using an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Afterwards, recovery of muscle function was assessed by performing a fatiguing upper limb exercise test with subsequent recovery measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscle recovery of the upper limb muscles was similar in both groups. Average activity counts were significantly lower in MS patients than in the control group. MS patients spent significantly more time being sedentary and less time on activities of moderate intensity compared with the control group. No significant correlation between PAL and recovery of muscle function was found in MS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recovery of upper limb muscle function following exercise is normal in MS patients. MS patients are less physically active than healthy inactive controls. PAL and recovery of upper limb muscle function appear unrelated in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group, Departments of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ickmans
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group, Departments of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Fauve
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simoens
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group, Departments of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Jo.Nijs@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nijs
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group, Division of Occupational Therapy, Artesis University College Antwerp, KU Leuven, Belgium; Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University , Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cras
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University , Belgium.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willekens
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University, Belgium; Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meeus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; Muscle recovery; Physical activity; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation