The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Function and Sleep Quality in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Catherine Siengsukon, PT, PhD

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Other: aerobic exercise; Other: home exercise program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01783665

13332

Details and patient eligibility

About

In addition to the typical motor and sensory impairments, individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience cognitive dysfunction and sleep disturbances. Cognitive impairment occurs in 40 % - 70% of patients with MS. In addition, sleep problems in individuals with MS are very common, and approximately 50% of patients with MS have a diagnosable sleep disorder. The research believes that aerobic exercise improve cognitive function and improve sleep quality.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosis of relapsing remitting or secondary progressive MS
• score 3-7 on the EDSS
• score < 55 on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test
• score > 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

Exclusion criteria

• history of alcohol/drug abuse or nervous system disorder other than MS
• severe physical, neurological, or sensory impairments that would interfere significantly with testing
• developmental history of learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• relapse and/or corticosteroid use within four weeks of assessment
• unable to give consent
• uncorrected vision loss that would interfere significantly with testing
• score less than 24 on MMSE
• Acute ischemic cardiovascular event or coronary artery bypass surgery less than 3 months ago
• Either unable to physically perform the exercise test using the recumbent stepper or demonstrate absolute indications for terminating exercise that follows the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) guidelines
• Uncontrolled blood pressure with medication (BP > 190/110mmHg)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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28 participants in 2 patient groups

Aerobic Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

3x/week supervised moderate intensity aerobic exercise on recumbent stepper

Treatment:

Other: aerobic exercise

Home exercise program

Active Comparator group

Description:

Walking and stretching exercises performed 3x/week for 30 minutes at intensity considered non-aerobic

Treatment:

Other: home exercise program