White, L. J., McCoy, S. C., Castellano, V., Ferguson, M. A., Hou, W., Dressendorfe, R. H. (2006). Effect of resistance training on risk of coronary artery disease in women with multiple sclerosis. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation, 66(4), 351-355.
Abstract by Brienne Davis
Physical activity is often recommended to healthy populations to reduce risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study tested the hypothesis that a short-term resistance training program would be associated with a reduction in CAD risk factors in women with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Twelve patients with MS, self-reported as mildly disabled, volunteered to participate in an 8- week progressive resistance exercise program. Exercises included knee flexion/extension, plantar flexion, and spinal flexion/extension with use of commercial weight machines. All subjects completed 16 sessions of approximately 30 minutes in duration.
CAD risk factors were assessed both before and after the program. Static strength of knee extensors and ankle flexors increased significantly, while self-reported fatigue decreased after training. The number of elevated CAD risk factors for each subject was also significantly lower after training. These findings suggest that short-term resistance training may be able to reduce CAD risk factors in ambulatory females with MS.