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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Adapted Resistance Training Improves Strength in Eight Weeks in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: January 29, 2016
Participation in and outcomes from a 12-month tailored exercise programme for people with multiple sclerosis
Nancy E Mayo1,2, Kedar Kv Mate1, Ryan Reid3
1Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Objective:
To estimate, among people with multiple sclerosis, the extent to which a personally tailored exercise programme (MSTEP©) resulted in greater improvements in exercise capacity and related outcomes over 12 months in comparison with general exercise guidelines.
Design:
Two-group randomized trial.
Subjects:
Ambulatory and sedentary.
Interventions:
MSTEP©, a personally adapted exercise regimen done on most days including two days of high intensity exercise; guidelines recommending 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic and strength training two times per week.
Main Measures:
Primary outcome was peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) at 12 months; secondary outcomes were composite measures of physical function, fatigue, and health-related quality of life.
Results:
In total, 137 people were randomized, 66 were lost over 12 months leaving 71 with outcome data, 34 in MSTEP© group, and 37 in the Guideline group. Exercise enjoyment and confidence and exercise-induced fatigue predicted retention. There were no differences between groups on the proportion making a 10% increase in VO2peak (27.1% MSTEP© vs 29.6% Guidelines; OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.23-3.08) by the 12 month assessment. The effect on fatigue was larger in the MSTEP© group than the Guideline groups (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 0.93-2.74), the effect on physical function was more modest (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 0.80-2.25), and null for health-related quality of life outcomes.
Conclusions:
The disappointing exercise retention suggests that people with multiple sclerosis may not consider exercise important to their brain health. Either type of exercise resulted in stable exercise capacity over 1 year in those sticking with the programme.
