Research Impact: Evidence supports benefits of traditional exercise modes for anxiety, depressive, and fatigue symptoms, debilitating comorbidities among people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS); however, less is known about non-traditional modes like Pilates. This adequately powered eight-week randomized controlled trial quantified the effects of home-based Pilates compared to a wait-list control on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue among 80 PwMS. Home-based Pilates significantly improved anxiety, depressive, and fatigue symptoms including moderate-to-large, clinically meaningful improvements in depressive and fatigue symptoms. These findings address the critical need to identify innovative, low-cost, and broad-reaching strategies to improve exercise engagement and mental health among PwMS.
Fleming KM, Coote SB, Herring MP (2021). ‘Home-based Pilates for Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Fatigue among Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: An Eight-week Randomized Controlled Trial’, Multiple Sclerosis Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585211009216. (IF: 5.412; Q1 Clinical Neurology; R=26/204).
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