Effect of different types of exercise on fitness in people with multiple sclerosis: A network meta-analysis

BackgroundIt is assumed that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who participate in programs of physical exercise improve their physical fitness. ObjectiveThe aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to analyze the effect of different types of exercise on muscular fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among people with MS and to determine the best type of exercise according to disease severity. MethodsMEDLINE, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, the Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to April 2022 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning the effect of physical exercise on fitness in people with MS. We ranked the types of physical exercise by calculating the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA). ResultsWe included 72 RCTs involving 2543 MS patients in this NMA. A ranking of five types of physical exercise (aerobic, resistance, combined [aerobic and resistance], sensorimotor training, and mind-body exercises) was achieved. Combined and resistance training had the highest effect sizes (0.94, 95% CI 0.47, 1.41, and 0.93, 95% CI 0.57, 1.29, respectively) and the highest SUCRA (86.2% and 87.0%, respectively) for muscular fitness. The highest effect size (0.66, 95% CI 0.34, 0.99) and SUCRA (86.9%) for CRF was for aerobic exercise. ConclusionsCombined and resistance training seem to be the most effective exercises to improve muscular fitness and aerobic exercise for CRF in people with MS.

Automated summary

This network meta-analysis examined the effects of different types of exercise on muscular fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and found that aerobic exercise had the greatest effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, while combined and resistance training had the greatest effect on muscular fitness.