Compare of training in aquatic and land environment on nerve growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 in patients with multiple sclerosis

Neurotrophins play an important role in disease status in multiple sclerosis patients, and studies have shown that these factors are influenced by physical activity. The purpose of the present study was comparison of training in aquatic and land environments on nerve growth factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 in male patients with MS.
In this study, 27 male patient with disability status scale between 1 and 3 who referred to Al-Zahra Hospital, were selected by purposive sampling. Then, the subjects were equally and randomly assigned to one of 3 groups (control, exercise in water, exercise on land). Blood sampling was performed in two stages: before and after the training period. Endurance training for in-water exercise group was stationary bike in water and for the on-land exercise group, was endurance training (stationary bike on land). Intensity and duration of exercise for both training groups, were equally at 60% of maximum oxygen consumption and 30 minutes for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week.
Nerve growth factor and insulin-like growth factor levels in both training groups, significantly increased in post-test compared to pre-test, but in the control group no significant difference was observed between the times of measurements. Also, measured factors in the in-water exercise group were significantly higher than on-land training group.
According to the results of this study, endurance training increases neurotrophic factors in patients with multiple sclerosis, which this increase in the in-water exercise group was higher than on-land exercise group.