Ventilatory function during exercise in multiple sclerosis and impact of training intervention: cross-sectional and...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Exercise Physiology
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Background:

• Patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) often present with resting ventilatory anomalies.
• Ventilatory function during exercise and the effects of long-term training interventions in pwMS are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ventilatory function during exercise in pwMS.
• To evaluate the impact of a 6-month training intervention on ventilatory function in pwMS.

Main Methods:

• A combined cross-sectional and randomized controlled trial design was employed.
• Part 1: Compared ventilatory function during submaximal exercise in pwMS (N.=37) and healthy controls (N.=15).
• Part 2: Randomized pwMS to a 6-month training intervention (N.=16) or usual care (N.=11), re-evaluating ventilatory function post-intervention.

Main Results:

• PwMS showed significantly elevated dead space/tidal volume ratio, O2 uptake and CO2 output equivalents, and end-tidal O2 pressure during exercise compared to controls.
• Ventilatory dysfunction correlated with perceived exertion and blood lactate levels in pwMS.
• Despite improved exercise tolerance post-intervention, ventilatory dysfunction persisted during endurance exercise.

Conclusions:

• PwMS experience ventilatory dysfunction during endurance exercise, linked to reduced exercise tolerance and increased perceived exertion.
• Long-term exercise training did not ameliorate this exercise-induced ventilatory dysfunction.
• Systematic assessment of the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems at rest and during exercise is recommended for pwMS.