Beneficial effects of a supervised and individualized training circuit on physical capacities and quality of life of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis

Objective: Rehabilitation strategies using adapted physical activities in multiple sclerosis (MS) have been poorly studied. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the impact of an 18-week program of adapted-training sessions (i.e., task-oriented circuit training, TOCT) on physical capacities and quality of life of patients suffering from MS. Methods: The program was composed of 3 sessions per week, one supervised by two physiotherapists which consisted of TOCT of 75 min; and two other sessions which consisted of an independent walking exercise of 30 min. Primary outcomes were walking abilities and quality of life. Secondary outcomes were handgrip strength, finger dexterity, lower limb strength endurance, fatigue, depression/anxiety and cardiorespiratory endurance. Results: Fourteen patients were included in analyses. TOCT significantly enhanced patients’ ability to perform the walking tests (improvement of +12.8% for the Timed 25-foot walk test [P = 0.006], +9.56% for the 100-meter walk test [P = 0.001], +8.91% for the 500-meter walk test [P = 0.03] and +20.35% for the Six Spot Step Test [P = 0.03]) and improved the mental component scale of the SF-36 questionnaire (+14.3% [P = 0.03]). Some secondary outcomes also improved following TOCT: dexterity of the non-dominant hand (+5.28%, P = 0.024), the 30-second chair stand test (+13.2%, P = 0.002) as well as the cardiorespiratory endurance (+9.21%, P = 0.02). No difference of handgrip strength, fatigue and depression/anxiety was notified. Conclusion: Despite not using a controlled design, this interventional pilot study suggests the feasibility and potential beneficial effects of an adapted training program in walking abilities, mental health quality of life, dexterity of the non-dominant hand and physical performance of multiple sclerosis patients. The beneficial effects of the intervention deserved to be confirmed in well-conducted randomized controlled trials.