Exercise Intensity and Immune Function in Multiple Sclerosis

This study aims to determine the effect of exercise intensity within a 15 week programme in moderately disabled people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although earlier research has shown that exercise is safe and may improve health related factors such as mobility and fatigue, the intensity at which exercise offers the most benefit has not yet been defined.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups - high intensity, moderate intensity or usual care. Participants in the exercising groups (high and moderate intensity) will take part in a supervised 15 week cycling exercise programme based in the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre. Those assigned to the usual care (control) group will continue to receive their usual medical care and will not participate in the exercise programme. The acute immune response to exercise will also be measured.

Participants from all three groups will be monitored regularly. Clinical outcomes of the study include immunological markers, exercise capacity, mobility, fatigue, quality of life and cognitive ability. These will be measured by a combination of blood tests, physical assessments and questionnaires.

It is hypothesised that high intensity exercise will cause a favourable, anti-inflammatory response which will be associated with greater improvements in physical and psychological outcomes than both moderate intensity exercise and usual care.