title: Is physical exercise a multiple sclerosis disease modifying treatment?
abstract: There is consensus that exercise represents a behavioral approach for the restoration of function and management of symptoms among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The current paper provides a review on the topic of exercise and physical activity as MS-disease modifying treatments.
  
  
  
  Firstly, metrics for evaluating disease modification and progression in MS are described. Secondly, evidence for exercise as a MS-disease modifying therapy based on individual studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses is summarized. Finally, the paper focuses on major limitations of the existing body of research. Expert commentary: Exercise and physical activity have been associated with reduced relapse rate, mobility disability and its progression, and lesion volume, and improved neuroperformance, particularly walking outcomes. This evidence provides a positive, yet preliminary, picture for exercise having possible effects on markers of disease modification and progression in MS.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology and Community Health , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology and Community Health , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pilutti
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D018450:Disease Progression; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; disability; disease progression; exercise; relapse