Effects of Pilates training with massage therapy on BDNF and Fatigue index in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that plays an important role in the maintenance and repair of the nervous system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-weeks of Pilates training with massage on serum BDNF leveland fatigue index in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, 18 volunteer female MS patients (0, diseases history: 4/5; 7±2 years, age: 30-40 years) were randomly divided into Pilates training with massage (n=9) and control (n=9) groups. Training program for Pilates training with massage was carried out for 8 weeks (3 s/wk, consisted of 20 to 40 min Pilates & 20 min massage per session). The BDNF of serum and fatigue index were measured before and after the intervention. Analysis of the data was performed by Paired samples and independent samples t-test by SPSS21 at p<0.05 statistical significance level. Following to eight weeks of Pilates training with massage, serum BDNF level was significantly increased and fatigue index was significantly decreased (p<0.05). It seems that Pilates training along with massage could be proposed as a complementary treatment alongside medications to prevent disease progression in MS patients.