The effects of home-based resistance exercise on balance, power, and mobility in adults with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of an 8-week home-based resistance exercise program on balance, power, and mobility in adults with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN Experimental group design. SETTING General community. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-nine women (age, 50.3+/-8.5 y) and 8 men (age, 51.1+/-7.1 y) were stratified by disability level and age and were randomized into exercise (n=19) and control (n=17) groups. INTERVENTION The exercise group had lower-extremity resistance training 3 times a week. The control group maintained current level of physical activity.Main outcome measures Primary outcome measures included balance, as measured by anteroposterior sway, mediolateral sway, and sway velocity using the AccuSway(PLUS) force platform; mobility as assessed with the Up and Go test; and leg power as assessed with the Leg Extensor Power Rig. RESULTS Leg extensor power improved significantly in the exercise group (pretest, 3.19+/-1.36 W/kg; posttest, 3.95+/-1.23 W/kg; P=.004), although measures of balance and mobility did not change. CONCLUSIONS The home-based resistance program was well tolerated by participants and offered a practical means to improve leg extensor power in a short period of time.

[1]  R. Fielding,et al.  Leg power in young women: relationship to body composition, strength, and function. , 1996, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[2]  J. Shaw,et al.  Weighted vest exercise improves indices of fall risk in older women. , 1998, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

[3]  J. Kent‐Braun,et al.  Quantitation of lower physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis. , 1997, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[4]  Richard W. Bohannon,et al.  Interrater reliability of a modified Ashworth scale of muscle spasticity. , 1987, Physical therapy.

[5]  J. Bean,et al.  High intensity strength training improves strength and functional performance after stroke. , 2000, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.

[6]  M. Spencer,et al.  Pressor response to isometric exercise in patients with multiple sclerosis. , 1996, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[7]  S. Eathorne.  ACSM's Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities , 1998 .

[8]  Diane Podsiadlo,et al.  The Timed “Up & Go”: A Test of Basic Functional Mobility for Frail Elderly Persons , 1991, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[9]  G. Gehlsen,et al.  Effects of an aquatic fitness program on the muscular strength and endurance of patients with multiple sclerosis. , 1984, Physical therapy.

[10]  J. Kurtzke.  Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis , 1983, Neurology.

[11]  William J. Kraemer,et al.  Designing Resistance Training Programs , 1997 .

[12]  Geoffrey E. Moore,et al.  ACSM's exercise management for persons with chronic diseases and disabilities , 2003 .

[13]  M. Stone,et al.  A hypothetical model for strength training. , 1981, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[14]  K. Harms-Ringdahl,et al.  Simultaneous Ashworth measurements and electromyographic recordings in tetraplegic patients. , 1998, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[15]  M. Tinetti,et al.  Fall risk index for elderly patients based on number of chronic disabilities. , 1986, The American journal of medicine.

[16]  J. Judge,et al.  Balance improvements in older women: effects of exercise training. , 1993, Physical therapy.

[17]  J. Kent‐Braun,et al.  Evidence of an abnormal intramuscular component of fatigue in multiple sclerosis , 1995, Muscle & nerve.

[18]  Suzanne G. Leveille,et al.  The Relationship Between Leg Power and Physical Performance in Mobility‐Limited Older People , 2002, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[19]  Claudine J Barrett,et al.  A comparison of community-based resistance exercise and flexibility exercise for seniors. , 2002, The Australian journal of physiotherapy.

[20]  J. Petajan,et al.  Role of Cardiovascular Fitness in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study , 1988 .

[21]  J Avela,et al.  Leg extension power and walking speed in very old people living independently. , 1997, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

[22]  E. Bassey,et al.  A new method for measuring power output in a single leg extension: feasibility, reliability and validity , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[23]  M. Weiner,et al.  Effects of Electrically Stimulated Exercise Training on Muscle Function in Multiple Sclerosis , 1996 .

[24]  T Abe,et al.  Effect of resistive knee extension training on postural control measures in middle aged and elderly persons. , 2000, Journal of physiological anthropology and applied human science.

[25]  P. Coyle,et al.  Disseminated abnormalities of cardiovascular autonomic functions in multiple sclerosis , 1985, Neurology.

[26]  C. Snow,et al.  Detraining Reverses Positive Effects of Exercise on the Musculoskeletal System in Premenopausal Women , 2000, Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

[27]  Susan L. Kasser,et al.  EFFECTS OF PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE EXERCISE ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH IN ADULTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 854 , 1996 .

[28]  R. M. Glaser,et al.  Concentric and eccentric isokinetic lower extremity strength in persons with multiple sclerosis. , 1992, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[29]  L. Lipsitz,et al.  Leg extensor power and functional performance in very old men and women. , 1992, Clinical science.

[30]  B Gerdle,et al.  Endurance training in patients with multiple sclerosis: five case studies. , 1994, Physical therapy.

[31]  J. K. Nelson,et al.  Research Methods in Physical Activity , 1990 .

[32]  J. M. Davies,et al.  Strength, power and related functional ability of healthy people aged 65-89 years. , 1994, Age and ageing.

[33]  J. R. Thomas,et al.  What is missing in p less than .05? Effect size. , 1991, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[34]  J A Ponichtera-Mulcare,et al.  Exercise and multiple sclerosis. , 1993, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[35]  Jeff Hebert,et al.  Impact of Aerobic Training on Fitness and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis. , 2000 .

[36]  J. Kurtzke.  NEUROLOGIC IMPAIRMENT IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND THE DISABILITY STATUS SCALE , 1970, Acta neurologica Scandinavica.

[37]  J. Judge,et al.  Velocity training induces power-specific adaptations in highly functioning older adults. , 2001, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[38]  D. Pendergast,et al.  A portable, easily performed muscle power test and its association with falls by elderly persoms. , 1991, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[39]  Davide Cattaneo,et al.  Risks of falls in subjects with multiple sclerosis. , 2002, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[40]  M. Morris,et al.  Clinical tests of standing balance: performance of persons with multiple sclerosis. , 2000, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.