The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on the Recovery of Walking Ability and Neuroplasticity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Animal and Clinical Studies

Overview

Journal Mult Scler Int

Publisher Wiley

Date 2017 Nov 29

PMID 29181199

Citations 12

Authors

Augustine Joshua Devasahayam

Matthew Bruce Downer

Michelle Ploughman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Walking is of high priority for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). It remains unclear whether aerobic exercise can improve walking ability and upregulate neurotrophins. This review aims to consolidate evidence to develop optimal aerobic training parameters to enhance walking outcomes and neuroplasticity in PwMS.

Methods: Clinical studies examining aerobic exercise for ≥3 weeks, having outcomes on walking with or without neurotrophic markers, were included. Studies utilizing animal models of MS were included if they employed aerobic exercise with outcomes on neurological recovery and neurotrophins. From a total of 1783 articles, 12 clinical and 5 animal studies were included.

Results: Eleven clinical studies reported improvements in walking ability. Only two clinical studies evaluated both walking and neurotrophins, and neither found an increase in neurotrophins despite improvements in walking. Patients with significant walking impairments were underrepresented. Long-term follow-up revealed mixed results. Two animal studies reported a positive change in both neurological recovery and neurotrophins.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise improves walking ability in PwMS. Gains are not consistently maintained at 2- to 9-month follow-up. Studies examining levels of neurotrophins are inconclusive, necessitating further research. Aerobic exercise enhances both neurological recovery and neurotrophins in animal studies when started 2 weeks before induction of MS.

Citing Articles

Intensive Aerobic Cycling Is Feasible and Elicits Improvements in Gait Velocity in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Preliminary Study.

Simmons S, Skolaris A, Love R, Fricker T, Penko A, Li Y Int J MS Care. 2024; 26(3):119-124.

PMID: 38765298 PMC: 11096857. DOI: 10.7224/1537-2073.2023-042.

Breaking boundaries: the transformative role of exercise in managing multiple sclerosis.

Saedmocheshi S, Yousfi N, Chamari K EXCLI J. 2024; 23:475-490.

PMID: 38741722 PMC: 11089092. DOI: 10.17179/excli2024-6932.

Incongruence between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Subjective Reports of Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Focus on Sex Differences.

Buragadda S, Snow N, Gou A, McShane J, Newell C, Ploughman M Mult Scler Int. 2024; 2024:6055245.

PMID: 38721588 PMC: 11074878. DOI: 10.1155/2024/6055245.

Patient Self-Assessment of Walking Ability and Fracture Risk in Older Australian Adults.

Bliuc D, Tran T, Alarkawi D, Chen W, Alajlouni D, Blyth F JAMA Netw Open. 2024; 7(1):e2352675.

PMID: 38261318 PMC: 10807297. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.52675.

The MoxFo initiative-Mechanisms of action: Biomarkers in multiple sclerosis exercise studies.

Rosenkranz S, Ploughman M, Hvid L, Zimmer P, Erickson K, Stellmann J Mult Scler. 2023; 29(13):1569-1577.

PMID: 37880953 PMC: 10637103. DOI: 10.1177/13524585231204453.

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