Aerobic cycling reduces fatigue and improves pain in persons with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study

Sarah B Simmons; Donayja Harris; Alexis Skolaris; Tori Fricker; Yadi Li; Brittany Lapin; Rachel Galioto; Francois Bethoux; Susan M Linder

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2023.105102

Aerobic cycling reduces fatigue and improves pain in persons with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023 Dec:80:105102. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105102. Epub 2023 Oct 23.

Authors

Sarah B Simmons¹, Donayja Harris², Alexis Skolaris², Tori Fricker², Yadi Li³, Brittany Lapin³, Rachel Galioto⁴, Francois Bethoux⁵, Susan M Linder⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Cleveland Clinic, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland, OH, USA.
² Cleveland Clinic, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
³ Cleveland Clinic, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Clinic, Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Neurological Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁴ Cleveland Clinic, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁵ Cleveland Clinic, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Clinic, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁶ Cleveland Clinic, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Clinic, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: linders@ccf.org.

PMID: 37925962
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105102

Abstract

Fatigue and pain are prevalent in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), negatively impacting quality of life (QoL). Clinical management is challenging due to their multiple underlying causes. Aerobic exercise elicits central and peripheral effects, which may effectively manage MS-related symptoms. Our aim was to determine the effects of an aerobic cycling intervention on symptoms impacting QoL. Eighteen participants completed a 12-week moderate- to high-intensity aerobic cycling intervention. Participants reported significant improvements in physical fatigue, overall fatigue, pain intensity, and pain interference. Aerobic exercise should be considered as part of a multi-faceted approach to improve fatigue and pain in PwMS.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Forced-rate exercise; Physical activity; Quality of life; Voluntary exercise.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

Bicycling / physiology
Exercise
Exercise Therapy*
Fatigue* / etiology
Fatigue* / therapy
Humans
Multiple Sclerosis* / complications
Multiple Sclerosis* / therapy
Pain / etiology
Quality of Life*