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Effect of 12 weeks of aquatic strength training on individuals with multiple sclerosis

Efeito de 12 semanas de treinamento aquático de força em pacientes com esclerose múltipla

RESUMO

Antecedentes:

Programas de exercícios físicos são recomendados para pacientes com esclerose múltipla. No entanto, são limitados os estudos que envolvem o treinamento aquático de força para a melhoria das capacidades funcionais.

Objetivo:

Investigar o efeito de um programa de treinamento aquático de força nas capacidades funcionais e nos níveis de força e fadiga de pessoas diagnosticadas com esclerose múltipla.

Métodos:

Foram selecionados 29 voluntários com esclerose múltipla. Todos os participantes realizaram uma bateria de testes, incluindo os de capacidades funcionais, nível de força e níveis de fadiga em dois momentos distintos: pré-intervenção e pós-intervenção. O programa de treinamento de força foi realizado durante 12 semanas. Foram utilizados exercícios de força localizados, com controle específico de carga de trabalho, que variou entre 50 e 90% do máximo, de acordo com a semana de treinamento. Para a análise estatística, optou-se por utilizar o teste t de Student na comparação ente os momentos pré- e pós-intervenção.

Resultados:

Os resultados demonstraram melhora significativa em todas as variáveis investigadas: teste de 6 min de caminhada (p=0,00); força mão dominante (p=0,02); força mão não dominante (p=0,00); levantar (p=0,00); sentar e levantar-se (p=0,00); subir 15 degraus (p=0,00); descer 15 degraus (p=0,00); calçar meias (p=0,00); gravidade da fadiga (p=0,01); impacto da fadiga (p=0,01).

Conclusão:

O treinamento aquático de força foi eficiente para melhorar as capacidades funcionais relacionadas à qualidade de vida de pacientes com esclerose múltipla.

Palavras-chave:
Esclerose Múltipla; Ambiente Aquático; Treinamento de Força

ABSTRACT

Background:

Physical exercise programs are recommended for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, studies involving aquatic strength training to improve functional capacity in MS are limited.

Objective:

To investigate the effectiveness of an aquatic strength-training program in improving physical function, strength, and fatigue levels in individuals with (MS).

Methods:

Twenty-nine patients with MS were enrolled in the study. All participants underwent a battery of tests to measure physical function, strength and fatigue levels at two time points: before and after the 12-week intervention. The training program included strength exercises with clearly defined load and percentage of repetitions based on the patient’s maximal performance. Statistical analyses were carried out using the Student’s T test for comparison between pre- and post-intervention measures.

Results:

All test results were improved significantly after the intervention: 6-minute walk time (p=0.00), dominant hand grip strength (p=0.02), non-dominant hand grip strength (p=0.00), getting up (p=0.00), sitting and getting up (p=0.00), walking up 15 steps (p=0.00), walking down 15 steps (p=0.00), putting on socks (p=0.00), severity of fatigue (p=0.01), and impact of fatigue (p=0.01).

Conclusion:

The aquatic strength-training program was effective in increasing physical capacities of patients with MS.

Keywords:
Multiple Sclerosis; Aquatic Environment; Resistance Training

INTRODUCTION

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, leading to inflammation, degeneration and, ultimately, persistent disability in affected patients11. Compston A, Coles A. Multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 2008 Oct;372(9648):1502-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61620-7
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
. The chronic and recurrent demyelination in MS evolves with axonal and neuronal loss and dysfunction of electrical nerve impulse transmission22. Criste G, Trapp B, Dutta R. Axonal loss in multiple sclerosis: causes and mechanisms. Handbook of clinical neurology. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;122:101-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52001-2.00005-4
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
. MS prevalence varies worldwide, with a typical latitudinal grading in which the disease is more common away from the equatorial line33. Dobson R, Giovannoni G. Multiple sclerosis-a review. Eur J Neurol. 2019 Jan;26(1):27-40. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.13819
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/...
. MS prevalence in Brazil follows this gradient pattern with 1.36 cases/100,000 inhabitants in the Northeast to 27.2/100,000 inhabitants in the South of the country44. da Gama ABCN, Lacativa MCS, da Costa Pereira FFC, Alvarenga RMP. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Brazil: A systematic review. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2015 Nov;4(6):572-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2015.08.004
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
. The disease typically affects women between 20 and 40 years of age, and presents with a wide range of neurological symptoms. These symptoms may recover, recur, or become disabilities. Among these signs and symptoms are motor and sensory deficits, tremors, decreased coordination, visual impairment, and sphincter dysfunction55. Henze T, Rieckmann P, Toyka K, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Consensus Group of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society. Symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis. Eur Neurol. 2006;56(2):78-105. https://doi.org/10.1159/000095699
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1159/...
. Mood and sleep disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and fatigue are also significant in the lives of people with MS66. Glanz BI, Dégano IR, Rintell DJ, Chitnis T, Weiner HL, Healy BC. Work productivity in relapsing multiple sclerosis: associations with disability, depression, fatigue, anxiety, cognition, and health-related quality of life. Value Health. 2012 Dec;15(8):1029-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2012.07.010
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
.

Measuring disability in MS is challenging. Given the wide variety of signs, symptoms, and comorbidities that affect patients, it is virtually impossible to measure the impact of disabilities. No scale covers all possible dysfunctions and their impact, and neurologists have agreed to maintain the Expanded Disability Scale Score (EDSS)77. Kurtzke JF. Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis: an expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Neurology. 1983 Nov;33(11):1444-52. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.33.11.1444
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1212/...
as the standard measure in studies. The EDSS is graded in half points from zero (normal) to 10 (MS-related death), it is highly dependent on motor function and gait, and increased EDSS scores can associated with higher levels of fatigue88. Benito-León J, Manuel Morales J, Rivera-Navarro J, Mitchell AJ. A review about the impact of multiple sclerosis on health-related quality of life. Disabil Rehabil. 2003 Dec;25(23):1291-303. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280310001608591
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/...
.

Physical activity programs have shown to positively influence the lives of patients with MS99. Heesen C, Romberg A, Gold S, Schulz K-H. Physical exercise in multiple sclerosis: supportive care or a putative disease-modifying treatment. Expert Rev Neurother. 2006 Mar;6(3):347-55. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.6.3.347
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1586/...
,1010. Pilutti LA, Platta ME, Motl RW, Latimer-Cheung AE. The safety of exercise training in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review. J Neurol Sci. 2014 Aug;343(1-2):3-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2014.05.016
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
, especially by reducing fatigue levels. Although a variety of programs have been proposed, strength training programs show the greatest benefit for people with MS. Patients can improve strength, reduce fatigue, decrease disease progression, and have a higher quality of life1111. Cruickshank TM, Reyes AR, Ziman MR. A systematic review and meta-analysis of strength training in individuals with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Jan;94(4):e411. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000411
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1097/...
,1212. DeBolt LS, McCubbin JA. The effects of home-based resistance exercise on balance, power, and mobility in adults with multiple sclerosis1. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 Feb;85(2):290-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2003.06.003
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,1313. Kasser S, McCubbin J. Effects of progressive resistance exercise on muscular strength in adults with multiple sclerosis 854. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996 May;28(5):143. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199605001-00852
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1097/...
. Aquatic training has been highly recommended for individuals with MS1414. American Physical Therapy Association. Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. American Physical Therapy Association. Phys Ther. 2001 Jan;81(1):9-746.,1515. Latimer-Cheung AE, Pilutti LA, Hicks AL, Ginis KAM, Fenuta AM, MacKibbon KA, et al. Effects of exercise training on fitness, mobility, fatigue, and health-related quality of life among adults with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review to inform guideline development. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Sep;94(9):1800-1828.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2013.04.020
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
, and aerobic aquatic training programs have shown benefits for these patients since the 1980s1616. Gehlsen GM, Grigsby SA, Winant DM. Effects of an aquatic fitness program on the muscular strength and endurance of patients with multiple sclerosis. Phys Ther. 1984 May;64(5):653-7. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/64.5.653
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/...
.

Recent studies have demonstrated that aerobic aquatic training programs improves walking ability and ability to get up from a sitting position1717. Aidar FJ, de Matos Gama D, Gomes A, Saavedra F, Garrido N, Carneiro A, et al. Influence of aquatic exercises in physical condition in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018 May;58(5):684-9. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.17.07151-1
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23736...
. In a systematic review, a significant increase in quality of life levels was observed in MS patients after aerobic aquatic training1818. Corvillo I, Varela E, Armijo F, Alvarez-Badillo A, Armijo O, Maraver F. Efficacy of aquatic therapy for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017 Dec;53(6):944-52. https://doi.org/10.23736/S1973-9087.17.04570-1
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23736...
. These findings demonstrate that prescribing exercise programs is a non-pharmacological way to improve physical performance and quality of life. Despite the findings in the literature on the benefits of aquatic aerobic training, a determining variable for maintaining of functional capacities is strength, and there is currently a gap regarding the benefits of aquatic strength training and the form of individualized prescription of these model-training programs for patients in different conditions.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of associating an aquatic and strength training program specially designed for individuals with MS.

METHODS

Subjects

The Ethics and Research Committee of the Federal University of São Paulo approved the current project. A convenience sample of 26 patients with MS diagnosed and treated in the coastal region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, was enrolled. At the time of the project, no patient exercised regularly and a team of neurologists followed all volunteers. The patients enrolled voluntarily and the group consisted of 22 women and seven men. Participants were medically examined prior to participation. Maximum disability at the time of enrollment was defined as EDSS<6.0 (able to walk even if the aid of a cane was required). All volunteers signed a free informed consent form before entering the trial.

Materials, participants and procedure

Body weight and height were used to calculate the body mass index (BMI). Percent body fat was calculated through a standard protocol1919. Pollock M, Wilmore J. Exercícios na saúde e na doença. 2nd ed. Rio de Janeiro: Medsi; 1993..

Physical tests

The tests were performed in two distinct time points: before and after a 12-week intervention program of aquatic strength training. The tests consisted of:

  • Aerobic performance: assessed by the six-minute walk test performed in a 30-meter hall with a demarcation every three meters and two cones at the ends2020. Dourado VZ. Reference equations for the 6-minute walk test in healthy individuals. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011 Jun;96(6):e128-38. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2011005000024
    https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1590/...
    ,2121. Qureshi A, Brandt-Pearce M, Goldman MD. Relationship between gait variables and domains of neurologic dysfunction in multiple sclerosis using six-minute walk test. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2016 Aug;2016:4959-62. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2016.7591840
    https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1109/...
    ,2222. Goldman MD, Marrie RA, Cohen JA. Evaluation of the six-minute walk in multiple sclerosis subjects and healthy controls. Mult Scler. 2008 Apr;14(3):383-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458507082607
    https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/...
    .

  • Strength of upper limbs: assessed by the handgrip test. Subjects were evaluated seated in a chair with the spine erect, knees bent at 90 degrees and shoulders in an anatomical position. The elbow remained flexed at 90 degrees, with the forearm in a neutral grip position, with the possibility to bend it up to 30 degrees. The subject was then instructed to grasp the dynamometer as hard as possible for five seconds. The test is repeated three times with a 1-minute interval between each repetition. The highest value obtained for the dominant and non-dominant hand was recorded2323. Ortiz-Rubio A, Cabrera-Martos I, Rodríguez-Torres J, Fajardo-Contreras W, Díaz-Pelegrina A, Valenza MC. Effects of a home-based upper limb training program in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Dec;97(12):2027-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.05.018
    https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
    ,2424. Mathiowetz V, Kashman N, Volland G, Weber K, Dowe M, Rogers S. Grip and pinch strength: normative data for adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1985 Feb;66(2):69-74..

  • Activities of daily living: these were assessed by getting up from the floor; sitting and getting up from a chair and walking a short distance; walking up and down 15 steps; and putting on socks2525. Andreotti RA, Okuma SS. Validação de uma bateria de testes de atividades da vida diária para idosos fisicamente independentes. Rev Paul Educ Fís. 1999 Jun;13(1):46-66. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2594-5904.rpef.1999.137759
    https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.11606...
    .

  • Fatigue: assessed by the Impact of Fatigue and Severity of Fatigue questionnaires2626. Gomes LdR. Validação da versão portuguesa da escala de impacto da fadiga modificada e da escala de severidade da fadiga na esclerose múltipla. Braga: Universidade do Minho; 2011..

Aquatic strength training program

The protocol consisted of three times a week frequency for 12 weeks with 50 minutes per session. Five minutes of warm-up with aerobic and coordination exercises, forty minutes of strength training exercises. The routine was split into: Monday - exercises for the front part of the body, Wednesday - exercises for the back part of the body. In the last five minutes the subjects performed cool-down exercises. The program was performed in a 25-m swimming pool, with a water depth of 1.5 m and average temperature of 29°C, located in the Universidade Metropolitana de Santos. The load control for the strength exercises was made by the number of repetitions in a 30-second time test; the load used for the training sessions during the 12 weeks was between 50 and 80% of the maximum. The load control followed a non-linear periodization, increasing the load in three weeks and decreasing it in the fourth week (Figure 1). The interval between sets was 30 seconds, with cyclic exercises. The training protocol consisted of eight exercises, four exercises for the upper body and four exercises for the low body.

All training sessions were prescribed and accompanied by two physical education instructors.

Figure 1.
Load control model for all the exercises applied in series of 30 seconds. Repetitions were established based on the number of maximum repetitions performed in 30 seconds. The model includes a weekly goal and intensity performed by patients.

Statistical analysis

After confirming that the data was normally distributed with the Shapiro-Wilk test, the Student’s t-test was used to compare the pre- and post-intervention time points. Cohen’s test was used for assessing the effect size. The level of significance was set at p≤0.05 with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

RESULTS

Anthropometric characteristics of all patients and their degree of disability are shown in Table 1. Women had higher body fat levels, as well as higher number of relapses and disability.

Table 1.
Physical characteristics of volunteers with multiple sclerosis (mean±SD).

Table 2 shows the results of physical tests before and after the training program.

Table 2.
Results (mean±SD), absolute difference, relative difference and comparison between the pre- and post-intervention time points for all tests.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, volunteers significantly improved their performance in all tests and reduced the time required to perform all functional tests (getting up from the floor, sitting and getting up from a chair and walking a short distance, walking up 15 steps, walking down 15 steps, and putting on socks). Fatigue levels decreased. There was an improvement in handgrip strength, which relates to upper limb strength and is extremely important for the patient to perform daily tasks such as carrying objects. For the physical performance tests, the improvements varied from 16 to 29%. These tests are related to the activities of daily living, such as getting up from a chair and picking up an object in another room, which are closely associated with patients’ physical independence, and therefore, with their quality of life levels.

The decrease in fatigue levels post-intervention is extremely important, since fatigue is present in most patients with MS and is one of the main disabling factors of the disease. Finally, patients increased the distance covered in the six-minute walk test. This test is commonly used to measure the aerobic conditioning and gait mobility of patients, and findings demonstrated that even though the patients performed aquatic strength training, their aerobic fitness was also improved. Taken together, the results confirm that aquatic strength training can be a non-pharmacological alternative for patients with MS.

The results of the six-minute walk test are similar to those of other studies2020. Dourado VZ. Reference equations for the 6-minute walk test in healthy individuals. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011 Jun;96(6):e128-38. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2011005000024
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1590/...
showing the beneficial effects of an aquatic training program. The good response of strength training programs are related to the activation of upper agonist muscles and of lower antagonist muscles2727. Gabriel DA, Kamen G, Frost G. Neural adaptations to resistive exercise. Sports Med. 2006;36(2):133-49. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200636020-00004
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2165/...
,2828. McComas AJ. Human neuromuscular adaptations that accompany changes in activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994 Dec;26(12):1498-509.. As previously shown by other authors, our results indicate that higher strength levels may ultimately be responsible for improved walking capacity and decreased fatigue levels1111. Cruickshank TM, Reyes AR, Ziman MR. A systematic review and meta-analysis of strength training in individuals with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Jan;94(4):e411. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000411
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1097/...
,1515. Latimer-Cheung AE, Pilutti LA, Hicks AL, Ginis KAM, Fenuta AM, MacKibbon KA, et al. Effects of exercise training on fitness, mobility, fatigue, and health-related quality of life among adults with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review to inform guideline development. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Sep;94(9):1800-1828.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2013.04.020
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,2929. Kierkegaard M, Lundberg IE, Olsson T, Johansson S, Ygberg S, Opava C, et al. High-intensity resistance training in multiple sclerosis-An exploratory study of effects on immune markers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and on mood, fatigue, health-related quality of life, muscle strength, walking and cognition. J Neurol Sci. 2016 Mar;362:251-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2016.01.063
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
. Strength training with weights showed similar improvements to the present study. A study investigating direct and contralateral strength training in patients with multiple sclerosis for 6 weeks found 16.5% improvement in walking speed3030. Manca A, Peruzzi A, Aiello E, Cereatti A, Martinez G, Deriu F, Della Croce U. Gait changes following direct versus contralateral strength training: A randomized controlled pilot study in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Gait Posture. 2020 May;78:13-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.02.017
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
, data very similar to the present study, which found a 17% improvement in walking speed. A recent study showed improvement in the ­walking speed after 24 weeks of strength training combined with cognitive exercises, corroborating the present findings in the 6-minute walk test3131. Gutiérrez-Cruz C, Rojas-Ruiz FJ, De la Cruz-Márquez JC, Gutiérrez-Dávila M. Effect of a combined program of strength and dual cognitive-motor tasks in multiple sclerosis subjects. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep;17(17):6397. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176397
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/...
.

The high level of fatigue common in patients with MS may limit daily activities. Apart from a small effect of amantadine in some cases, no drug intervention seems to improve this situation3232. Moss-Morris R, Mercer T, White C, Thomas S, van der Linden M, Harrison A, et al. Which exercise or behavioural fatigue interventions are effective for people with multiple sclerosis (MS)? A systematic review with detailed intervention breakdown and meta-analysis. Behav Res Ther. 2021 Feb;137:103464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.103464
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
. On the other hand, aerobic training and strength training programs seem to positively affect this disabling MS symptom3333. Platta ME, Ensari I, Motl RW, Pilutti LA. Effect of exercise training on fitness in multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Sep;97(9):1564-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.01.023
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,3434. Halabchi F, Alizadeh Z, Sahraian MA, Abolhasani M. Exercise prescription for patients with multiple sclerosis; potential benefits and practical recommendations. BMC Neurol. 2017 Sep;17(1):185. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-017-0960-9
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,3535. Triplett NT, Colado JC, Benavent J, Alakhdar Y, Madera J, Gonzalez LM, et al. Concentric and impact forces of single-leg jumps in an aquatic environment versus on land. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Sep;41(9):1790-6. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a252b7
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1249/...
. Two recent systematic reviews demonstrated the benefits of this type of programs in patients with MS1111. Cruickshank TM, Reyes AR, Ziman MR. A systematic review and meta-analysis of strength training in individuals with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Jan;94(4):e411. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000411
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1097/...
,1515. Latimer-Cheung AE, Pilutti LA, Hicks AL, Ginis KAM, Fenuta AM, MacKibbon KA, et al. Effects of exercise training on fitness, mobility, fatigue, and health-related quality of life among adults with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review to inform guideline development. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Sep;94(9):1800-1828.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2013.04.020
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
. The aquatic strength training is safe and effective in MS, since high intensity training can be performed with minimal risk of lesions3535. Triplett NT, Colado JC, Benavent J, Alakhdar Y, Madera J, Gonzalez LM, et al. Concentric and impact forces of single-leg jumps in an aquatic environment versus on land. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Sep;41(9):1790-6. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a252b7
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1249/...
, low post-exercise pain3636. Robinson LE, Devor ST, Merrick MA, Buckworth J. The effects of land vs. aquatic plyometrics on power, torque, velocity, and muscle soreness in women. J Strength Cond Res. 2004 Feb;18(1):84-91. https://doi.org/10.1519/1533-4287(2004)018<0084:teolva>2.0.co;2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1519/...
, and better control of body temperature3737. Fujishima K, Shimizu T. Body temperature, oxygen uptake and heart rate during walking in water and on land at an exercise intensity based on RPE in elderly men. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2003 Mar;22(2):83-8. https://doi.org/10.2114/jpa.22.83
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2114/...
. High intensities on aquatic strength training promote an increase in fatigue tolerance and a decrease in perceived effort in daily activities3434. Halabchi F, Alizadeh Z, Sahraian MA, Abolhasani M. Exercise prescription for patients with multiple sclerosis; potential benefits and practical recommendations. BMC Neurol. 2017 Sep;17(1):185. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-017-0960-9
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
.

In conclusion, aquatic strength training is an effective non-pharmacological strategy to increase physical functional capacities associated to quality of life of patients with MS. The practical applications of this study is that physicians accompanying patients with multiple sclerosis can include guided aquatic strength training in their prescriptions.

References

  • 1
    Compston A, Coles A. Multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 2008 Oct;372(9648):1502-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61620-7
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61620-7
  • 2
    Criste G, Trapp B, Dutta R. Axonal loss in multiple sclerosis: causes and mechanisms. Handbook of clinical neurology. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;122:101-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52001-2.00005-4
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52001-2.00005-4
  • 3
    Dobson R, Giovannoni G. Multiple sclerosis-a review. Eur J Neurol. 2019 Jan;26(1):27-40. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.13819
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.13819
  • 4
    da Gama ABCN, Lacativa MCS, da Costa Pereira FFC, Alvarenga RMP. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Brazil: A systematic review. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2015 Nov;4(6):572-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2015.08.004
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2015.08.004
  • 5
    Henze T, Rieckmann P, Toyka K, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Consensus Group of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society. Symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis. Eur Neurol. 2006;56(2):78-105. https://doi.org/10.1159/000095699
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1159/000095699
  • 6
    Glanz BI, Dégano IR, Rintell DJ, Chitnis T, Weiner HL, Healy BC. Work productivity in relapsing multiple sclerosis: associations with disability, depression, fatigue, anxiety, cognition, and health-related quality of life. Value Health. 2012 Dec;15(8):1029-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2012.07.010
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2012.07.010
  • 7
    Kurtzke JF. Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis: an expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Neurology. 1983 Nov;33(11):1444-52. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.33.11.1444
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.33.11.1444
  • 8
    Benito-León J, Manuel Morales J, Rivera-Navarro J, Mitchell AJ. A review about the impact of multiple sclerosis on health-related quality of life. Disabil Rehabil. 2003 Dec;25(23):1291-303. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280310001608591
    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280310001608591
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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    21 Feb 2022
  • Date of issue
    May 2022

History

  • Received
    10 Dec 2020
  • Reviewed
    14 June 2021
  • Accepted
    09 July 2021
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