title: High Intensity Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis: Effects on Muscle Contractile Characteristics and Exercise Capacity, a Randomised Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-to-moderate intensity exercise improves muscle contractile properties and endurance capacity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The impact of high intensity exercise remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four MS patients were randomized into a sedentary control group (SED, n = 11) and 2 exercise groups that performed 12 weeks of a high intensity interval (HITR, n = 12) or high intensity continuous cardiovascular training (HCTR, n = 11), both in combination with resistance training. M.vastus lateralis fiber cross sectional area (CSA) and proportion, knee-flexor/extensor strength, body composition, maximal endurance capacity and self-reported physical activity levels were assessed before and after 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to SED, 12 weeks of high intensity exercise increased mean fiber CSA (HITR: +21 ± 7%, HCTR: +23 ± 5%). Furthermore, fiber type I CSA increased in HCTR (+29 ± 6%), whereas type II (+23 ± 7%) and IIa (+23 ± 6%,) CSA increased in HITR. Muscle strength improved in HITR and HCTR (between +13 ± 7% and +45 ± 20%) and body fat percentage tended to decrease (HITR: -3.9 ± 2.0% and HCTR: -2.5 ± 1.2%). Furthermore, endurance capacity (Wmax +21 ± 4%, time to exhaustion +24 ± 5%, VO2max +17 ± 5%) and lean tissue mass (+1.4 ± 0.5%) only increased in HITR. Finally self-reported physical activity levels increased 73 ± 19% and 86 ± 27% in HCTR and HITR, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High intensity cardiovascular exercise combined with resistance training was safe, well tolerated and improved muscle contractile characteristics and endurance capacity in MS.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01845896.
authors.affiliation: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wens
authors.affiliation: Section of Sport Science, Dep. Public Health, Aarhus University, Dalgas Avenue 4, 8000, Aarhus, C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dalgas
authors.affiliation: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenabeele
authors.affiliation: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grevendonk
authors.affiliation: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verboven
authors.affiliation: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bert O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Eijnde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010807:Physical Endurance; D016896:Treatment Outcome