Exercise Interventions for Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition marked by demyelination, leading to physical impairment, fatigue and reduced wellbeing. Exercise interventions have emerged as a cornerstone in multidisciplinary management, aiming to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, balance and fatigue tolerance. Evidence supports a range of modalities—such as aerobic training, resistance training, balance exercises and combined approaches—tailored to individual disability levels and symptom profiles. Aerobic activities, including cycling and walking programmes, enhance walking endurance and mood, whereas resistance training notably increases muscle strength and reduces perceived fatigue. Balance and coordination drills help mitigate fall risk and enhance mobility. Multicomponent interventions, integrating moderate-intensity aerobic work with strength and balance sessions, often yield synergistic benefits for physical and mental components of quality of life. Exercise prescriptions are most effective when supervised, progressively advanced and adapted to patient preferences, ensuring adherence and long-term engagement. This body of research underscores the global importance of structured physical training as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve daily functioning and overall quality of life in people with MS.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A recent meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials across chronic conditions demonstrated that structured physical activity interventions produce moderate reductions in fatigue, a major barrier to exercise in MS. Short-term (2–6 weeks) and longer-term (16–24 weeks) programmes with 30–36 sessions achieved the greatest improvements. Aerobic cycling, resistance exercises and combination training all showed large to moderate effects on fatigue reduction, with sustained but smaller benefits at follow-up. Findings highlight the influence of intervention duration, total sessions and exercise modality on the magnitude of symptom relief.

Exercise Interventions for Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in exercise interventions for quality of life in multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Randomised controlled trial (RCT): A study design in which participants are randomly allocated to intervention or control groups to assess efficacy.

Standardised mean difference (SMD): A statistical measure expressing the size of an intervention effect relative to variability.

Aerobic exercise: Physical activity that improves cardiovascular endurance through rhythmic, large-muscle group movements.

Resistance training: Exercise involving muscles working against an external force to increase strength.

Multicomponent training: An intervention combining two or more exercise modalities, such as aerobic, strength and balance work.

References

1. Exercise prescription for patients with multiple sclerosis; potential benefits and practical recommendations. BMC Neurology (2017).
2. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on reducing perceived fatigue among adults with chronic conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis. European Journal of Medical Research (2023).
4. Effects of exercise in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health (2024).