The exercising subjects performed individualized limb and trunk exercises (prescribed by a physical therapist) for 15 minutes twice daily, while the control subjects were instructed not to partake in any physical activity other than their activities of daily living. Both exercise and control participants were tested at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months for several ALS-related factors, including: (1) manual muscle testing of strength, (2) the Ashworth spasticity scale, (3) the ALS functional rating scale of disability, (4) the fatigue severity scale, (5) a musculoskeletal pain scale, and (6) the SF-36 health survey. Statistically, Wilcoxon rank sum tests displayed group differences while analyses of variance were performed to evaluate responses to the 6 test factors.