Background

Evidence supports positive effects of exercise on mental health outcomes among people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). However, non-traditional exercise modes like Pilates remain understudied.

Objective

This study will investigate the effects of an eight-week immediate start home-based Pilates compared to delayed-start control condition on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue among PwMS.

Methods

68 adults (>18 years old) with physician diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis, Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) score <3, who are free from any other significant physical or psychiatric condition, with no previous Pilates experience, and who have no medical contraindications to safe participation in physical activity, will be randomised to two weekly home-based Pilates sessions guided by a DVD, or wait-list control. Empirically validated measures will assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue at baseline, and weeks two, four, six and eight of the intervention. Standardized mean differences and Hedges' d will be calculated to explore magnitude of change in response to home-based Pilates compared to delayed-start control condition. Based on recent feasibility findings, we hypothesize that, compared to wait-list control, immediate-start home-based Pilates will result in moderate-to-large improvements across outcomes.

Conclusion

This randomised controlled trial will provide additional information regarding the feasibility of Pilates to improve mental health outcomes, and the magnitude of the effects of Pilates compared to a wait-list control on mental health outcomes among PwMS. These findings should inform both healthcare professionals and exercise scientists regarding the potential of home-based Pilates to improve management of several mental health symptoms prevalent among PwMS.

中文翻译：

---

一项为期八周的家庭普拉提随机对照试验，研究了轻度至轻度行动不便的MS患者的焦虑，抑郁和疲劳症状：研究方案

背景

证据支持运动对多发性硬化症（PwMS）患者心理健康结局的积极影响。然而，普拉提这样的非传统锻炼方式仍未得到充分研究。

目的

这项研究将调查与延迟启动控制条件相比，八周立即启动的家庭普拉提对PwMS的焦虑，抑郁和疲劳症状的影响。

方法

68位成年人（> 18岁）被医生诊断为多发性硬化症，患者确定的疾病步骤（PDDS）得分<3，没有任何其他明显的身体或精神疾病，没有普拉提经验，也没有医学上的禁忌症安全参加体育活动，将随机分为两周，由DVD或等候名单控制的家庭普拉提训练。经过经验验证的措施将在基线以及干预的第二，第四，第六和第八周评估焦虑，抑郁和疲劳症状。标准平均差和套期d将计算出与延迟启动控制条件相比，对家用普拉提的反应变化幅度。基于最近的可行性研究结果，我们假设与等待列表控制相比，即时开始在家中锻炼普拉提会在结果方面带来中度到较大的改善。

结论

这项随机对照试验将提供更多信息，说明普拉提改善心理健康结果的可行性，以及普拉提相对于PwMS中心理健康结果的等待列表控制的影响程度。这些发现应告知医疗保健专业人员和运动科学家关于家庭普拉提改善改善PwMS中普遍存在的几种心理健康症状的管理的潜力。