Aerobic Training in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study on the Effects of Music During Group Treatment

Journal

Multiple Sclerosis Journal

Year

2020

Abstract

Aerobic training has been shown to have beneficial effects in multiple sclerosis (MS), improving symptoms management and reducing fatigue. Recently, the application of auditory cueing at different tempi has been coupled with walking in MS, suggesting that this could be a promising functional training strategy. The association of aerobic activity and auditory stimulation is widely used in clinical practice, but the specific effect of music has been poorly investigated. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of a full body aerobic treatment consisting in supervised group sessions with music (MUSIC) vs. the same protocol without music (CONTROL) in people with MS (PwMS). 15 PwMS were randomized to MUSIC (N=9; 6 F; age=52.6±7.0; EDSS=2.4±1.3) or to CONTROL (N=6; 6 F; age=61.0±6.4; EDSS=3.5±1.2). Both groups performed twelve 1-hour group sessions (2/week) of aerobic training, including basic dance steps (e.g., mambo and jazz steps) with lower and upper limbs involvement. MUSIC participants were requested to synchronize their movements with a 128 BPM music. All subjects performed an incremental exercise test at baseline (PRE) and after the treatment (POST). During the training, groups' heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored through chest-strap HR devices. Preliminary results showed that MUSIC group maintained more stable HR values along the 12 sessions compared to the CONTROL group, as indicated by a lower coefficient of variability (MUSIC=0.05±0.02; CONTROL=0.10±0.06; t=2.16, p

Music and Health Institute Terms

Multiple Sclerosis; Music in Combination with Other Techniques; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Physical Exercise; Receptive Music Methods; Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation; Recreative Music Methods

Indexed Terms

group therapy; multiple sclerosis; muscle training; pilot study; aerobic capacity; clinical article; conference abstract; controlled study; dancing; EMBASE keywords; exercise test; Expanded Disability Status Scale; fatigue; heart rate; human; preliminary data; randomized controlled trial; thorax; upper limb; walking

Study Type

Randomized Controlled; Trial; Quantitative Methods

Document Type

Article

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