Perception of muscular effort in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Resistance exercise enhances muscle strength and combats weakness in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Controlling resistance training intensity via perceived exertion is common in healthy populations but unproven in MS.
• Investigating perceived exertion in MS is crucial for effective exercise prescription.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare muscular effort perception between MS patients and healthy controls.
• To assess the validity of perceived exertion scales in MS populations.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five MS patients and 28 controls used the OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale to adjust static elbow extension tasks.
• Elbow extension strength and muscle activity (EMG) were measured relative to maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).
• Statistical analysis involved two-way analysis of variance.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in relative torque or extensor muscle activity were observed between MS patients and controls across all effort levels.
• Both groups demonstrated comparable responses to perceived exertion levels.

Conclusions:

• MS patients exhibit similar perception of muscular effort compared to age-matched healthy controls.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the utility of rating of perceived exertion for managing resistance training intensity in MS.