Is there an overlooked "window of opportunity" in MS exercise therapy? Perspectives for early MS rehabilitation. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Riemenschneider, Morten; Hvid, Lars G; Stenager, Egon; Dalgas, Ulrik
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 24:Number 7(2018)
• Page Start: 886
• Page End: 894
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- rehabilitation -- exercise therapy -- early treatment -- window of opportunity; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458518777377
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

While early medical treatment has proven effective in MS, early-phase MS rehabilitation has not gained much attention in MS research and clinical practice. Exercise therapy is one of the most promising treatment strategies in MS rehabilitation. Here, we provide a topical review investigating when exercise therapy is initiated in existing MS studies, showing that exercise is initiated at a rather late disease stage, where it predominantly serves as a symptomatic treatment. Recent findings in MS suggest that exercise may have neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects. Such findings along with the findings from medical trials that an early-stage "window of opportunity" exists leads to the proposal that early exercise therapy should be an increased focus in research and clinical practice for persons with MS. A further perspective relates to other rehabilitation interventions that are also initiated at a later disease stage, as these may also take advantage of an early-phase approach.