Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a 6-mo exercise program on cognition and mobility in participants with multiple sclerosis.
Design: This is a prospective, single-blind, controlled clinical trial.
Setting: A community rehabilitation program within a large metropolitan health service.
Participants: Twenty-eight patients with multiple sclerosis were referred for outpatient rehabilitation.
Interventions: Participants were allocated to one of two groups and undertook a cognitive-motor exercise program or monitoring (control group).
Main outcome measures: Cognition and mobility were the main outcome measures. Cognition was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Frontal Assessment Battery. Mobility was assessed with the Timed Get Up and Go test, applied with and without dual task distractors.
Results: The findings showed benefits provided by exercise on cognition and mobility. Differently, participants of the control group did not have significant changes in cognition scores after 6 mos of follow-up and had a worse performance in mobility tests.
Conclusion: Six months of exercise provided benefits to cognition and mobility in adults with multiple sclerosis. This trial was registered prospectively with the Brazilian Clinical Trials Register, ID: RBR-9gh4km (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-9gh4km).
To claim cme credits: Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME CME OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Recognize the physical and cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis; (2) Identify the importance of exercise on cognition and mobility in patients with multiple sclerosis; and (3) Appreciate the potential benefit of dual tasking in the rehabilitation of individuals with multiple sclerosis.Level: Advanced ACCREDITATION: The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.