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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Adapted Resistance Training Improves Strength in Eight Weeks in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: January 29, 2016
One-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial of an energy conservation course for persons with multiple
Virgil G Mathiowetz1, Kathleen M Matuska, Marcia L Finlayson
1Program in Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. mathi003@umn.edu
Abstract:
In this randomized controlled trial, 169 persons with multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to an immediate intervention group or a delayed control group using a crossover design. The outcome measures (Fatigue Impact Scale and SF-36 Health Survey) were measured four times before and after courses. This study investigated whether the immediate benefits of a 6-week, community-based, energy conservation course for persons with multiple sclerosis were maintained at 1-year follow-up. We performed intent-to-treat and compliers-only analyses using mixed effects analysis of variance models. Results showed that the beneficial effects were maintained 1-year postcourse compared with immediate postcourse. In addition, there were significant improvements in all three subscales of the Fatigue Impact Scale and in four subscales of SF-36 Health Survey 1-year postcourse compared with precourse. Together, these results provide strong evidence that the beneficial effects of the energy conservation course taught by occupational therapists were maintained up to 1-year postcourse.