title: Internet-Supported Physical Exercise Training for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis-A Randomised, Controlled Study.
abstract: Physical exercise is effective in improving functional outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). We evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of internet-based exercise training (e-training) for pwMS on health-related quality of life (HrQoL). Secondary outcomes were muscle strength, aerobic capacity, lung function, physical activity, and fatigue. This is a randomised, controlled trial with a wait-list control group. Data were collected at baseline, after three and six months, and analysed using a hybrid linear model. One-hundred twenty-six pwMS participated in the home-based aerobic (1×/week) and strength training (2×/week) intervention that was supervised and documented via an internet-platform. The intervention group received e-training for six months, and the control group received e-training after a three months waiting period. Significant differences between the groups were only observed for muscle strength (knee flexion (effect sizeES= 0.3,p= 0.003), knee extension (ES= 0.24,p= 0.015)), peak expiratory flow (ES= 0.2,p= 0.039), and sports activity (ES= 0.33,p= 0.001) after three months. E-training had no effect on HrQoL but did on muscle strength, lung function, and physical activity. It is a promising and feasible approach to facilitate large-scale, yet individual, training support.
authors.affiliation: Division Exercise and Health, Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. alexander.tallner@fau.de.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tallner
authors.affiliation: Division Exercise and Health, Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. rene.streber@fau.de.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Streber
authors.affiliation: Division Exercise and Health, Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. christian.hentschke@fau.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hentschke
authors.affiliation: Division Exercise and Health, Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. marc.morgott@fau.de.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgott
authors.affiliation: Division Exercise and Health, Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. Wolfgang.Geidl@fau.de.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Geidl
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stiftung Juliusspital, 97070 Würzburg, Germany. mathias.maeurer@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäurer
authors.affiliation: Division Exercise and Health, Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. klaus.pfeifer@fau.de.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aerobic training; exercise; fatigue; health-related quality of life; internet; lung function; multiple sclerosis; physical activity; resistance training; telerehabilitation