Effect of Aerobic Training on Muscle Performance and Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background. Compromised muscle performance is common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and subsequently affects activities of daily living and quality of life (QoL). Objective. to investigate the additional effect of short-term aerobic training on both of muscle performance and QoL in patients with MS. Design. Single blinded, parallel randomized controlled trial. Setting. Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt. Participants: 40 patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) were randomly divided into two equal groups; intervention (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. Intervention. Both groups received a therapeutic exercise program of active strengthening and stretching exercises for selected lower limbs muscles. Only intervention group received aerobic training using bicycle ergometer three sessions weekly for eight successive weeks. Outcomes measures: isokinetic dynamometer parameters; total work, power and fatigue index, to evaluate muscle performance. The Short Form health survey (SF-36) was also applied to evaluate the QoL. Results. Intervention group showed a remarkable significant improvement in all of the isokinetic parameters and in several subscales of SF-36 questionnaire as well when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion. adding aerobic training to physical therapy program can be more beneficial in improving muscle performance and quality of life in patients with MS.

Vaginal erbium laser treatment for stress urinary incontinence: A multicenter randomized sham‐controlled clinical trial

“…Non-ablative vaginal erbium laser (VEL; 2940 nm Er:YAG) using the SMOOTH mode technology 3 has been shown to promote the formation of neocollagen in the treated tissue, [4][5][6][7][8] and to restore the tissue structure; 9 resulting in a thickened and strengthened vaginal wall, which offers improved support of the bladder and urethra, 10 and subsequently leads to continence. The positive changes in the structure of the tissue have been used for treatment of SUI, [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] vaginal laxity [18][19][20] and symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). [21][22][23] Indeed, previous trials using the vaginal erbium laser (VEL) technology have shown promising and consistent results on efficacy and safety 24 with a favorable risk-benefit ratio following treatment; 24 notwithstanding the need for higher data quality from parallel-arm randomized controlled trials.…”