EFFECTS OF AEROBIC AND RESISTANCE TRAINING ON IMMUNE FUNCTION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

19 Years - 45 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Aerobic and Progressive Resistance Exercise Program — BEHAVIORAL
  A structured, supervised exercise program consisting of both aerobic and progressive strengthening (resistance) exercises. Aerobic exercises will include continuous, rhythmic activities involving large muscle groups (e.g., cycle ergometry, walking). Progressive resistance training will target major muscle groups, typically utilizing an intensity ranging from 60% to 80% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The duration, frequency, and total weeks of the program will be identical for both exercise arms.
• Standard Care (in control arm) — OTHER
  Participants in this arm will maintain their current routine medical follow-ups and standard daily life activities. They will not participate in any structured or supervised physical exercise program during the study period.

Study Details

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative central nervous system disorder characterized by axonal damage. This damage leads to various debilitating symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, balance loss, and cognitive decline. While reductions in aerobic capacity and muscle strength are secondary manifestations of MS, physical exercise serves as a crucial therapeutic strategy to manage symptoms and optimize functionality. Rationale: Aerobic exercise exerts anti-inflammatory effects by reducing adipose tissue mass, promoting anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization, and downregulating toll-like receptors. It also modulates the altered T-helper cytokine balance in MS (characterized by elevated proinflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α and decreased anti-inflammatory IL-10), potentially slowing myelin destruction. Concurrently, progressive resistance training (typically at 60%-80% of maximum voluntary contraction) has been shown to improve muscle strength and reduce perceived fatigue in this population. However, data regarding the specific impacts of these exercise modalities on the immune system remain limited. Objective:The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate and compare the effects of AEROBIC AND STRENGTHENING (RESISTANCE) EXERCISES ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM PARAMETERS (SPECIFICALLY CYTOKINE PROFILES) AND OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY IN INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

Key Dates

First listed

Jun 10, 2026

Start date

Jun 1, 2026

Status verified

Jun 2026

Primary completion

Aug 30, 2026

Completion

Dec 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

45 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: MS Exercise group
  Participants diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis who will perform a structured exercise program consisting of both aerobic training and progressive strengthening (resistance) exercises.
• Active Comparator: MS Control Group
  Participants diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis who will maintain their current routine medical care and daily life activities without participating in any structured exercise intervention during the study period.
• Experimental: healthy Control Group
  Age- and gender-matched healthy individuals who will perform the identical structured exercise program (consisting of aerobic and progressive strengthening exercises) as the MS Exercise Group. This arm will serve to compare the physiological, functional, and immunological (cytokine profiles) responses to exercise between healthy individuals and individuals with MS.

Primary Outcome Measure

CHANGE FROM BASELINE IN SERUM PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE LEVELS [ Time Frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (e.g., Week 8) ]

Central Contacts

• berna beren yıldırımoğlu, specialist physiotherapist
  +905550823309
  [email protected]

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