Resistance Training May Benefit Multiple Sclerosis, Study Finds

Multiple sclerosis can be a physically taxing disease that strikes at any time. For some, even getting out of bed or cleaning up the house can seem too difficult on certain days. Incorporating exercise can seem impossible when it's hard to even get around the house. 

But don't give up just yet!

It turns out that engaging in regular exercise might be really helpful to treat multiple sclerosis. If you're suffering from this disease, it might be worth putting in the extra effort to get more active. Researchers have discovered that exercise might actually help treat debilitating symptoms and protect your nervous system from further damage. 

Benefit in brain function-in healthy elderly patient’s exercises has shown brain benefits. One study found that regular resistance training done for a period of 12 months, two times in a week can in healthy elderly population show improved cognition. In healthy elderly individuals who underwent regular endurance training, similar results were found. Also it was noticed that along with improvement of cognition there was also improvement in actual volume of brain tissue. When over a period of six months these exercise regimens were continued, the benefit was found to be more pronounced.

A link between relief in symptoms and exercises for patients with MS condition has already been shown by studies. Studies have shown the evidence that exercise increases aerobic endurance and also strengthens the body. Also the ability of the patient to walk improved. Hence achievements in balance, quality of life and balance is observed. Though it is already known to researchers that symptoms can be improved by exercises but how it affects the progression of the disease has not been looked upon.

To monitor the disease in these patients the specific outcome measures that was used periodically was not looked upon. To do this task new set of researchers have set out and a regular, physical activity of neuroprotective effect has been suggested especially for patients with MS.  To look at how the addition of exercise might help improve patient outcomes in those with multiple sclerosis, the researchers designed a trial.

The use of both a standard MRI and disability scoring was employed to assess the patient’s progression of disease and the clinical outcome. MRI is used to visualize brain volume and tissue and it is a magnetic resonance imaging tool. In patients with multiple sclerosis to monitor their disease progression this is especially helpful.

Researchers found that the brain volume has improved and also in comparison to those who did not participate the cortical thickness were more. The brain atrophy becomes reduced in progressive resistance training and also the progression of multiple sclerosis may reduce. Compared to those who did not participate in the exercise program, reduced brain atrophy was seen in the ones who took part in resistance training program.

The general loss of brain tissue is described by brain atrophy. Usually the medication given as a part of treatment of the disease is is known to reduce brain atrophy. But according to studies it was found that this process can slow down even further by addition of exercise. Several hypotheses have been made about exercises helpful to treat multiple sclerosis but its protective effect on the nervous system has been evident for the first time.

How exercise can reduce brain atrophy cannot be explained by researchers now but hopefully through their further studies they hope to address the issue. Because of the small study the evidence is not considered to be very powerful. For longer periods of time more patients need to be studied and lot of work need to be done in this area. Though there are many benefits but it is suggested that you need to consult your doctor before you start any exercise.