Comparison of home-based and outdoor pilates training on vitamin D, intensity of fatigue and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which muscle weakness and fatigue reduce the quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two types of Pilates exercises at home and outdoors on fatigue and quality of life in MS patients.

Among the women, 44 women with MS were randomly selected and divided into three groups: home-based training, out-door training and control group. The exercise groups performed Pilates exercises for 8 weeks individually (via DVD) at home and under the sun exposure between 8 and 10 am, but the control group did not do any exercise during this time. Fatigue severity, quality of life and vitamin D levels of patients were measured before and after exercise and data were analyzed using covariance statistical method.

The results showed that after eight weeks of training, there was a significant difference between the indicators of fatigue, quality of life and vitamin D serum in women with MS in all three groups (P≤0.05). The results of post-test post hoc test showed that there was a significant difference between the two training groups in all three indices (P≤0.05). Also, eight weeks of outdoor training compared to home training caused a greater increase in serum vitamin D (78.43%). And quality of life (50.26%) and further reduction in the severity of patients' fatigue (41.76%) (P≤0.05).

Pilates training is recommended for people with MS due to its low cost, availability, and significant effects on quality of life and vitamin D and fatigue.