Cardiovascular Fitness of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Effect of Exercise on Fatigue and Depression

Cardiovascular Fitness and the Influence of a Controlled Combined Exercise Program on Fatigue and Depression of Newly Diagnosed Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

This study is focused on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), their cardiovascular fitness, and the effect of combined controlled training on the perception of fatigue, the development of depression, and quality of life in the first year after diagnosis.

The main goal is to find out if fatigue, depression, and quality of life depend on the type of training as well as controlled management of newly diagnosed patients. Fatigue is one of the frequent disabling symptoms and the most difficult to influence pharmacologically. It could lead to inactivity and the progression of deconditioning. We know from systematic reviews that aerobic activity leads to improvement in fatigue, however, there are also opinions about exercise intolerance due to disruption of cardiac autonomy control. The investigators will try to determine whether early rehabilitation intervention leads to support and motivation of patients with an incurable chronic neurodegenerative disease to improve the patient condition and contentment. The researchers will focus on effective training by comparing the study group with a control group of patients undergoing conventional rehabilitation versus a protocol-defined controlled combined (aerobic-resistant) exercise program - based on the results of spiroergometry. Both groups will be treated at ambulatory sections by protocol-defined rehabilitation for a 1-hour duration, twice a week for one month, and once a week for the next month (12 therapies in total). The control group will be educated in exercises according to kinesiological analysis to do regularly at home. Finally, the researchers will see if early intervention leads to a change in the active approach of probands.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 20 - 45 years
• Newly diagnosed patients with multiple sclerosis
• Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)
• EDSS 0-6
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Progressive forms of MS (PRMS or SPMS), Malignant MS
• Non-cooperation, disagreement with the study
• Contraindication to spiroergometry