Comparison of the Effects of Aerobic and Isokinetic Exercise Programs on Muscle Power, Cardiovascular Fitness, and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of aerobic and isokinetic rehabilitation exercise programs on muscle power, cardiovascular fitness, and quality of life (QoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: A total of 40 MS patients who enrolled in a rehabilitation center were included. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise group (AEG), and 20 to the isokinetic exercise group (IEG). Patients in both groups participated in a rehabilitation program for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. In the AEG, walking treadmills were adjusted to the maximum speed at which a person could walk, and a 30-45-min run-walk exercise was performed. The patients in the IEG pedaled on a bicycle ergometer. The primary outcome measures were exercise capacity, muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, and QoL. Results: In IEG, post-treatment exertion values improved significantly for all parameters except maximum achievable heart rate (p