Comparison of the Effect of 8 weeks Aerobic and Yoga Training on Ambulatory Function, Fatigue and Mood Status in MS Patients

Abstract

BackgroundMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that results in many symptoms including mobility limitation and fatigue.Patients and MethodsThirty-one MS patients, all female with mean of age of 36.75 years and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores (EDSS) of 1.0 to 4.0 were recruited. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: treadmill training, yoga or control groups. Treadmill training and yoga practice consisted of 8 weeks (24 sessions, thrice weekly). The control group followed their own routine treatment program. Balance, speed and endurance of walking, fatigue, depression and anxiety were measured by Berg Balance scores, time for 10m walk and distance for a two minute walk, Fatigue Severity Scale (FFS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively.ResultsComparison of results have shown that pre- and post-interventions produced significant improvements in the balance score, walking endurance, FFS score, BDI score and BAI score in the treadmill training group and yoga group. However, 10m walk time decreased in the treadmill training group but did not show any clear change in the yoga group. Moreover, the analysis showed significant differences between the treadmill training group and yoga group for BAI score.ConclusionsThese results suggest that treadmill training and yoga practice improved ambulatory function, fatigue and mood status in the individuals with mild to moderate MS.

Feasibility and Impact of an 8-Week Integrative Yoga Program in People with Moderate Multiple Sclerosis–Related Disability

“…tent with the findings of Guner and Inanici, 42 whereas Ahmadi et al 34,35 reported no change in walking speed after yoga. The present pilot study found improved fatigue (postintervention) after yoga.…”

“…Walking endurance improved statistically but did not achieve a clinically significant improvement in the present trial. Findings related to walking endurance in other studies are conflicting, with two studies reporting improvement in the 2-minute walk test distance 34,35 and two reporting no change in 6MWT distance. 37,38 The present finding of improved walking speed (T25FW) was consis-publicly available, we have not yet solicited feedback on its utility.…”

“…Other studies have reported conflicting findings on indices of fatigue, with four reporting improved fatigue after yoga 34,35,37,39 and two reporting no improvement. 38,41 The present findings of improved QOL are in agreement with reports by Ahmadi et al, 34,35 Doulatabad et al, 36 and Garrett et al, 37 whereas Hogan et al 38 reported no improvement in QOL after yoga intervention. We did not find a change in pain as measured by the PES, whereas Doulatabad et al 36 reported improved pain after 12 weeks of yoga.…”

“…12 Compared with non-yogic exercise programs, yoga was not superior in any of these domains. Cramer et al 12 reported that none of the trials reviewed [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] were robust against methodological bias. Furthermore, the forms of yoga and dosing varied across studies, and sufficient detail to reproduce the programs was generally absent.…”

“…Trials that measured balance in people with MS after yoga reported improvements. 34,35,38,42 Those studies used the Berg Balance Scale. Although we did not use the Berg Balance Scale, we found improvements in the MDRT-Back, indicative of improved balance.…”