Article

Fatigue occurs in the majority of multiple sclerosis patients and therapeutic
possibilities are few. Fatigue, mood and quality of life were studied in patients
with multiple sclerosis following progressive resistance training leading to
improvement of muscular strength and functional capacity. Fatigue (Fatigue
Severity Scale, FSS), mood (Major Depression Inventory, MDI) and quality of life
(physical and mental component scores, PCS and MCS, of SF36) were scored at
start, end and follow-up of a randomized controlled clinical trial of 12 weeks of
progressive resistance training in moderately disabled (Expanded Disability
Status Scale, EDSS: 3-5.5) multiple sclerosis patients including a Control group
(n = 15) and an Exercise group (n = 16). Fatigue (FSS > 4) was present in all
patients. Scores of FSS, MDI, PCS-SF36 and MCS-SF36 were comparable at start of
study in the two groups. Fatigue improved during exercise by -0.6 (95% confidence
interval (CI) -1.4 to 0.4) a.u. vs. 0.1 (95% CI -0.4 to 0.6) a.u. in controls (p
= 0.04), mood improved by -2.4 (95% CI -4.1 to 0.7) a.u. vs. 1.1 (-1.2 to 3.4)
a.u. in controls (p = 0.01) and quality of life (PCS-SF36) improved by 3.5 (95%
CI 1.4-5.7) a.u. vs. -1.0 (95% CI -3.4-1.4) a.u. in controls (p = 0.01). The
beneficial effect of progressive resistance training on all scores was maintained
at follow-up after further 12 weeks. Fatigue, mood and quality of life all
improved following progressive resistance training, the beneficial effect being
maintained for at least 12 weeks after end of intervention.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI