Abstract
Introduction: There is consensus that exercise represents a behavioral approach for the restoration of function and management of symptoms among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The current paper provides a review on the topic of exercise and physical activity as MS-disease modifying treatments. Areas covered: Firstly, metrics for evaluating disease modification and progression in MS are described. Secondly, evidence for exercise as a MS-disease modifying therapy based on individual studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses is summarized. Finally, the paper focuses on major limitations of the existing body of research. Expert commentary: Exercise and physical activity have been associated with reduced relapse rate, mobility disability and its progression, and lesion volume, and improved neuroperformance, particularly walking outcomes. This evidence provides a positive, yet preliminary, picture for exercise having possible effects on markers of disease modification and progression in MS.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 951-960 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2 2016 |
Keywords
- Multiple sclerosis
- disability
- disease progression
- exercise
- relapse
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Pharmacology (medical)