This review synthesizes evidence on the therapeutic benefits of exercise for people with MS, highlighting a paradigm shift in MS management toward increased physical activity. A landmark study funded by the National MS Society demonstrated that aerobic exercise using stationary bicycles significantly reduced fatigue and improved quality of life in MS patients. More recent research examined resistance training effects in a small group of MS patients through a 16-week progressive weight-training program targeting leg, back, and abdominal muscles twice weekly.
The resistance training study found that participants increased their ability to lift heavier weights progressively without developing significant muscle soreness. By program completion, patients showed measurable improvements in leg strength and walking speed. Importantly, participants reported substantial reductions in both fatigue and disability scores despite engaging in intensive training. These findings challenged the traditional recommendation that MS patients should avoid strenuous exercise, demonstrating that appropriately prescribed resistance and aerobic training could improve multiple health outcomes simultaneously.
These results have profound implications for MS rehabilitation and disease management. Exercise appears to improve not only physical function and strength but also subjective fatigue and overall disability perception. For MS patients, structured exercise programs tailored to individual ability levels may provide benefits comparable to some pharmaceutical interventions without adverse effects. The evidence suggests that exercise should be incorporated as a core component of MS management, alongside disease-modifying therapies and other symptom management strategies, potentially improving long-term disability outcomes and quality of life.
