Effect of Aerobic Exercise Program on Quality of Life in Male Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise program on quality of life in multiple sclerosis men as a complementary therapeutic approach to multiple sclerosis.

This was a semi-experimental study. The statistical sample consisted of 60 people was selected by the available sampling method from Kahrizak Nursing Home where was also a member of the Iranian MS society. They were randomly divided into control and test groups. After an introductory session of the patients with the aims and intervention method in the experimental group, 27 sessions of 60 minutes of aerobic exercise program were performed in 9 weeks. Data collection tools consisted of a demographic questionnaire, a short quality of life (SF-8) questionnaire, and self-report checklist with a significant level of p≤0.05. Descriptive statistical tests, independent t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used for analysis using SPSS version 16 statistical software with a significance level of p≤0.05.

The results showed that there was no significant different between the two groups in terms of the total score (df = 48 = T 21.1, p = 0.23) and dimensions of quality of life (Physical: df = 48, T = 1.31, p = 0.19; mental: df = 48, t = 0.96, p = 0.31) There was no significant difference between the control and experimental groups. The results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of quality of life dimensions.

In general, aerobic exercise, which was chosen as an exercise program in this study, improves the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients. Therefore, this complementary therapeutic approach is recommended as an effective and cost-effective method in cost and time, as well as the ability to learn and easy to administer to multiple sclerosis patients.