Can Home Exercise Programs Be a Low-Cost Alternative to Multiple Sclerosis Treatment?

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of aerobic exercise programs on patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls, and to show that home exercise programs can be as effective as supervised exercise programs. Materials and Methods: Eighty participants were included in this study and were divided into groups as the home-exercise group (outpatient), supervised exercise group (inpatient), and healthy controls. A 6-weeks aerobic exercise program was given to all participants. Before and after the exercise program, 6-minute Walking Test (6MWT), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Extended Disability Scale (EDSS), Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), and MS Quality of Life (MSQoL-54) were applied to participants. Results: When 6MWT and CPET data were evaluated, it was observed that the patient and control groups benefited from the exercise program. There was a significant improvement after treatment in the 6MWT, BBS, FSS, MSQoL-54, and KPET data of both the outpatient and inpatient groups, and there was no difference between the groups when the rates of change were compared. Conclusion: We have observed that the home-based exercise program is as effective as the supervised exercise program. We think that the home program should be recommended first when planning the exercise program in PwMS in terms of cost, effectiveness, and accessibility.