Effect of arm cycling and task-oriented exercises on fatigue and upper limb performance in multiple sclerosis: a...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease impacting fatigue and upper limb function.
• Rehabilitation is crucial for managing MS symptoms and improving quality of life.
• Understanding the efficacy of different therapeutic combinations is essential for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the short-term and carryover effects of combined arm cycling and task-oriented exercises on fatigue and manual dexterity in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).
• To evaluate the impact of this specific rehabilitation regimen on key functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A 16-week randomized crossover study involving 20 PwMS.
• Participants underwent 20 sessions of combined aerobic training (arm cycling) and task-oriented exercises.
• Assessments included the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Motor Fatigability Index (MFI), nine hole peg test (NHPT), and rate of tapping at maximum velocity (RATE-MV).

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in fatigue measures (MFIS, MFI) and a measure of manual dexterity (RATE-MV) post-treatment.
• No statistically significant improvements were found for the nine hole peg test (NHPT).
• No significant carryover effects were detected after the treatment period.

Conclusions:

• Combined arm cycling and task-oriented exercises are a viable rehabilitation strategy for PwMS.
• This approach demonstrates effectiveness in reducing fatigue and improving aspects of manual dexterity.
• Further research may explore optimizing session parameters and long-term effects.