Effect of resistance training on risk of coronary artery disease in women with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

The effects of a lower‐extremity progressive resistance‐training program (PRT) on risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) were determined in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twelve ambulatory women with MS (47.3±4.7 years; Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS), 4.00±1.37) completed twice weekly lower‐body PRT for 8 weeks. Knee extensor and ankle flexor strength improved significantly (p<0.05) after training, and self‐reported fatigue decreased (p<0.05). Serum triglyceride concentrations decreased (p<0.05) but body‐weight and fatness, blood pressure, and serum glucose, total cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were unchanged. However, the number of CAD risk factors that reached the clinical threshold for each subject declined after PRT, suggesting that resistance training can promote CAD risk reduction in ambulatory female MS subjects.

• Cardiovascular disease
• exercise
• multiple sclerosis
• strength training
• weight training