Changes in speed, Endurance and Balance in Women with Multiple Sclerosis after 4 and 8 weeks of Aquatic Exercise Training

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Sport Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Sport Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

4 Specialist in Community Medicine, Researcher, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: It has been shown that adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) have less leg strength than their peers, as well as impaired balance, which led to an increased prevalence of falling in this population. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 8-weeks aquatic exercise training in balance, walking endurance and speed in women with MS.Methods: Twenty-one women patient with clinically-definite relapsing-remittent MS who were registered through the Isfahan MS Association (Iran) participated in this randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomized into two groups: exercise training (n = 10) or control (n = 11). The exercise training group participated in an 8-weeks aquatic exercise program of 45-60 minutes sessions, 3 days per week on alternate days; while the controls received standard medical care and follow-up. Balance, walking speed and walking endurance were measured by using the Berg Balance Scale, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and 6-minute walk time at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks. The obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measures.Findings: After 2 months period, walking speed and endurance improved significantly in the exercise group compared with the controls (P < 0.05). The exercise group showed significant improvement in balance, walking speed and endurance during all of the aquatic exercise periods compared with baseline (P < 0.05). The difference in balance scores between the exercise and control groups was not significant after exercise-based water program (P > 0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that aquatic exercise training in women with MS improves balance, walking speed and endurance. However, aquatic exercise training may lead to additional benefit beyond optimal medical treatments and should be a cornerstone in the management of all patients with MS.

Keywords

References

  1. Kargarfard M, Eetemadifar M, Mehrabi M, Maghzi AH, Hayatbakhsh MR. Fatigue, depression, and health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran. Eur J Neurol 2012; 19(3): 431-7.
  2. Kargarfard M, Etemadifar M, Asfarjani F, Mehrabi M, Kordavani L. Changes in quality of life and fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis after 8 weeks of aquatic exercise training. Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health 2010; 12(3): 562-73.[In Persian].
  3. Taggart HM. Multiple sclerosis update. Orthop Nurs 1998; 17(2): 23-7.
  4. Motl RW, Snook EM. Physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life in multiple sclerosis. Ann Behav Med 2008; 35(1): 111-5.
  5. Madani H, Navipour P, Roozbayani P, Mousavinasab N. Effects of self- care program education of patients on complications of multiple sclerosis. J Birjand Univ Med Sci 2008; 15(2): 54-9. [In Persian].
  6. Etemadifar M, Janghorbani M, Shaygannejad V, Ashtari F. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran. Neuroepidemiology 2006; 27(1): 39-44.
  7. Salem Y, Scott AH, Karpatkin H, Concert G, Haller L, Kaminsky E, et al. Community-based group aquatic programme for individuals with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Disabil Rehabil 2011; 33(9): 720-8.
  8. Rampello A, Franceschini M, Piepoli M, Antenucci R, Lenti G, Olivieri D, et al. Effect of aerobic training on walking capacity and maximal exercise tolerance in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized crossover controlled study. Phys Ther 2007; 87(5): 545-55.
  9. Mostert S, Kesselring J. Effects of a short-term exercise training program on aerobic fitness, fatigue, health perception and activity level of subjects with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2002; 8(2): 161-8.
  10. Yozbatiran N, Baskurt F, Baskurt Z, Ozakbas S, Idiman E. Motor assessment of upper extremity function and its relation with fatigue, cognitive function and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients. J Neurol Sci 2006; 246(1-2): 117-22.
  11. Dalgas U, Stenager E, Ingemann-Hansen T. Multiple sclerosis and physical exercise: recommendations for the application of resistance-, endurance- and combined training. Mult Scler 2008; 14(1): 35-53.
  12. McGuinness SD, Peters S. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Model in practice. Rehabil Nurs 1999; 24(1): 30-3.
  13. Nortvedt MW, Riise T. The use of quality of life measures in multiple sclerosis research. Mult Scler 2003; 9(1): 63-72.
  14. White LJ, Dressendorfer RH. Exercise and multiple sclerosis. Sports Med 2004; 34(15): 1077-100.
  15. Peterson C. Exercise in 94 degrees F water for a patient with multiple sclerosis. Phys Ther 2001; 81(4): 1049-58.
  16. Romberg A, Virtanen A, Ruutiainen J, Aunola S, Karppi SL, Vaara M, et al. Effects of a 6-month exercise program on patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized study. Neurology 2004; 63(11): 2034-8.
  17. Woods DA. Aquatic exercise programs for patients with multiple sclerosis. clin Kinesiol 1992; 46(3): 14-20.
  18. Popova NF, Shagaev AS, Demina TL, Boiko AN. Dynamic stabilometry as a monitoring of movement and coordination disorders in the rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2009; 109(1): 35-9.
  19. DeBolt LS, McCubbin JA. The effects of home-based resistance exercise on balance, power, and mobility in adults with multiple sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004; 85(2): 290–97.
  20. Heesen C, Romberg A, Gold S, Schulz KH. Physical exercise in multiple sclerosis: supportive care or a putative disease-modifying treatment. Expert Rev Neurother 2006; 6(3): 347-55.
  21. Newman MA, Dawes H, van den Berg M, Wade DT, Burridge J, Izadi H. Can aerobic treadmill training reduce the effort of walking and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Mult Scler 2007; 13(1): 113-9.
  22. van den Berg M, Dawes H, Wade DT, Newman M, Burridge J, Izadi H et al. Treadmill training for individuals with multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomised trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006; 77(4): 531–3.
  23. Kileff J, Ashburn A. A pilot study of the effect of aerobic exercise on people with moderate disability multiple sclerosis. Clin Rehabil 2005; 19(2): 165-9.
  24. Takeshima N, Rogers ME, Watanabe E, Brechue WF, Okada A, Yamada T, et al. Water-based exercise improves health-related aspects of fitness in older women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34(3): 544-51.
  25. Kravitz L, Mayo JJ. The physiological effects of aquatic exercise: A brief review. Nokomis, F1: Aquatic Exercise Association; 1997.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 31, Issue 256 - Serial Number 256
September and October 2013
Pages 1628-1639

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 10 July 2012
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics