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Updated: Sep 9, 2026
Adapted Resistance Training Improves Strength in Eight Weeks in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: January 29, 2016
A group resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
Ambra Mara Giovannetti1, Kenneth Ian Pakenham2, Massimiliano Copetti3
1Unit of Neuroepidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy; School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Unit of Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy.
Background:
People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) often experience reduced resilience, the ability to adapt to stressors using internal and external resources. Resilience and Activities for every DaY (READY) is an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based group resilience intervention.
Objective:
To assess the effectiveness of READY versus group relaxation in PwMS with low resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25 [CD-RISC] score < 83).
Methods:
Cluster-randomized controlled trial across seven Italian centers with assessments at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and after 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome was CD-RISC at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include mood, psychological flexibility, well-being, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Results:
Of 226 PwMS randomized to 24 groups, 197 were analyzed; 188 completed the trial. At 3 months, CD-RISC improved in both arms (+2.53 READY; +0.43 relaxation; between-arm difference +2.10, 95% CI -1.06 to +5.26; p = 0.193); READY showed greater improvement than relaxation in Anxiety (p = 0.016), Well-being (p = 0.022), Psychological Flexibility (p = 0.033), and generic HRQoL (p = 0.001). At 6 months, differences increased to include depression (p = 0.039). Longitudinal models showed significant within-group improvements in READY across resilience, mood, HRQoL, well-being, and flexibility outcomes.
Conclusions:
READY was not superior for the primary endpoint but was superior for most secondary outcomes.
Trial Registration:
ISRCTN67194859 (ISRCTN Registry; https://www.isrctn.com).
