Research Impact: Exercise training reduces depressive symptoms among people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). However, identification of modifiable patient and trial characteristics that influence exercise effects is critical to the development of effective exercise interventions. This meta-regression of 24 effects derived from 14 trials among PwMS showed that exercise training resulted in a significant moderate reduction in depressive symptoms (Δ=0.55). Exercise effects were moderated by a significant improvement in fatigue, such that larger antidepressant effects resulted when exercise significantly and concurrently improved fatigue. Future trials among PwMS may benefit from using exercise to concurrently improve depressive symptoms and fatigue as a symptom cluster.
Herring MP, Fleming KM, Hayes SP, Motl RW, Coote SB. Moderators of exercise effects on depressive symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis: A meta-regression. Am J Prev Med. 2017; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.04.011
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