Effect of aerobic training on muscle performance and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis / Mohamed Ahmed Fouad Ibrahim ; Supervised Gehan Mousa Ahmed , Ebtesam Mohamed Fahmy

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

Background: Compromised muscle performance is a common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and subsequently affects activities of daily living and quality of life (QoL). Objective: to investigate the effect of short-term aerobic training on muscle performance and QoL in patients with MS. Subjects and Methods: Forty patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) were included and randomly divided into two equal groups; Study group (A) and control group (B). Both groups received a therapeutic exercise program of active strengthening and stretching exercises for selected lower limbs muscles. The study group (A) also received aerobic training using bicycle ergometer three sessions weekly for eight successive weeks. Isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate muscle performance parameters; total work, power and fatigue index. The Short Form health survey (SF-36) was also applied to evaluate QoL, outcome measures were recorded before and after treatment. Results: the study group showed a significant post treatment improvement in all isokinetic parameters and subscales of SF-36 questionnaire (except physical functioning and bodily pain) compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Group B showed no significant difference in all measured parameters post treatment compared to pre-treatment values, (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Aerobic training is more beneficial than therapeutic exercise program in improving muscle performance and quality of life in patients with MS

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