Systematically developed pilot randomized controlled trial of exercise and cognition in persons with multiple sclerosis.
Cognitive impairment is common and debilitating among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and might be managed with exercise training. The present pilot study adopted a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) design and is the first to examine the effect of a systematically developed, progressive treadmill walking exercise training intervention on cognition among fully ambulatory persons with MS. Ten fully ambulatory females with MS were randomly assigned into exercise training intervention or waitlist control conditions. The intervention condition involved 12 weeks of supervised, progressive chronic treadmill walking exercise training. Participants underwent measures of cognition (i.e., cognitive processing speed (CPS), executive function), walking performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness before and after the 12-week period; baseline and follow-up assessments were performed by blinded assessors. Overall, there were large intervention effects on CPS (d = 0.95), walking performance (d = 0.76), and cardiorespiratory fitness (d > 1.08). The change in cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with change in CPS (r = .60), but not walking performance. This small pilot RCT provides preliminary proof-of-concept data supporting progressive treadmill walking exercise training for potentially improving CPS, walking performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness in fully ambulatory persons with MS, and that improved fitness might be a possible mechanism for improved CPS.
a Department of Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research , Kessler Foundation , West Orange , NJ , USA.
Brian M
BM
Sandroff
b Department of Kinesiology and Community Health , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
Julia M
JM
Balto
b Department of Kinesiology and Community Health , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
Rachel E
RE
Klaren
b Department of Kinesiology and Community Health , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
Sarah K
SK
Sommer
a Department of Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research , Kessler Foundation , West Orange , NJ , USA.
John
J
DeLuca
b Department of Kinesiology and Community Health , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , IL , USA.
Robert W
RW
Motl
D000328:Adult; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D056344:Executive Function; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
Multiple sclerosis; cognition; cognitive processing speed; exercise; walking