title: Effects of a Short Physical Exercise Intervention on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to investigate if a short-term endurance or combined endurance/resistance exercise program was sufficient to improve aerobic capacity and maximum force in adult patients (18-65 years) with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients performed a three-month exercise program consisting of two training sessions per week, lasting 40 min each, with moderate intensity. All patients had a maximum value of 6 (low to moderate disability) on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). One group (combined workout group (CWG); 15 females, 4 males) completed a combined endurance/resistance workout (20 min on a bicycle ergometer, followed by 20 min of resistance training), while the other group (endurance workout group (EWG); 13 females, 5 males) completed a 40 min endurance training program. Aerobic capacity was assessed as peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory anaerobic threshold, and workload expressed as Watts. Maximum force of knee and shoulder extensors and flexors was measured using isokinetic testing. Quality of life was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire, and fatigue was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both training groups increased in aerobic capacity and maximum force. EWG, as well as CWG, showed improvement in several subscales of the SF-36 questionnaire and decrease of their fatigue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short exercise intervention increased both aerobic capacity and maximum force independent of whether endurance or combined endurance/resistance workouts were performed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Kerling.arno@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerling
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. sportmedizin@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keweloh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. tegtbur.uwe@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tegtbur
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. kueck.momme@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Momme
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kück
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. sportmedizin-akk@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grams
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. sportmedizin-osp@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Hauke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horstmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany. windhagen.anja@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Windhagen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MFIS; SF36; VAT; VO2peak; endurance training; quality of life; resistance training