Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative neurological dis- to help alleviate or modify neuromuscular complications,
order characterized by the demyelinization of CNS pathways such as ataxia, spasticity, contracture, and disuse atrophy of
that may, in part, be responsible for the neuromuscular dys- the skeletal muscles.5 A more recent trend has favored the use
function found in persons with the disease. The primary focus of dynamic exercise (calisthenics, cycling, and swimming) for
of research in this area has been on determining the etiology sustaining the physical conditioning response and preventing
of the disease and development of a cure rather than on trying neuromuscular complications associated with physical inac-
to improve the general fitness of the patient. Because the tivity.5,6 Russell has implied that dynamic exercise creates a
etiological origin of MS has yet to be determined, treatment hyperaemic response in the body that results in opening up
has been limited to the control of symptomatic complications, circulation to the ischemic regions of the spinal cord and
such as muscular fatigue, weakness, contracture, and spastic- brain.6 He observed that a rest-exercise program for patients
ity, through physical therapy and the use of drugs.1-3 with MS arrested the pathogenic process by preventing the
Exercise programs directed toward treating certain specific fulminating or malignant type or both from developing.
deficits have been viewed by some as having the most to offer Certain physical activities, such as jogging, may be inappro-
patients with MS.4 Traditionally, such techniques as active priate for patients with MS because of exposure to harsh
and passive range of motion, coordination exercises, and environmental conditions and the requirement for stamina
various facilitation techniques to induce voluntary motor and balance beyond the patients' capacities. The buoyant
activity or inhibit unwanted motor patterns have been used nature of water and the ability to control water temperature
effectively, however, are characteristics that have made a
positive therapeutic response in patients with neuromuscular
Dr. Gehlsen is Professor of Physical Education and Director of the Biome-
chanics Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306 (USA). disease possible.7
Ms. Grigsby is Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Program, Department No empirical evidence is available on the benefits of an
of Physiology and Health Science, Ball State University, Muncie, IN.
Mr. Winant was a graduate student in the Department of Men's Physical
aquatic exercise program for the patient with MS. The phys-
Education, Ball State University, when this study was conducted. He is currently ical therapist, therefore, is unable to make any recommenda-
a Research Assistant, Department of Rehabilitative Medicine, University Hos- tion (positive or negative) concerning aquatic exercise pro-
pital, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105.
This article was submitted March 14, 1983; was with the authors for revision grams for patients with MS. The purpose of this study was to
18 weeks; and was accepted December 20, 1983. determine the effects of an aquatic exercise program on the
TABLE 2
Cybex® II Dynamometer Results: Peak Torque Values of Knee Extensor" and Flexor Muscles at Predetermined Angular Velocities
Difference
Pretrial (Nm) Midtrial (Nm) Posttrial (Nm)
(%)
Angular Velocity Pretrial Midtrial Pretrial
s s s to to to
Midtrial Posttrial Posttrial
0°/sec Flexion 32.4 19.9 42.6 16.9 43.4 18.9 31.8 1.9 33.9
Extension 85.6 25.9 92.1 32.1 90.8 32.4 7.6 -1.4 6.0
60°/sec Flexion 37.0 30.1 47.5 31.5 46.0 27.5 28.2 -3.2 24.3
Extension 70.5 34.2 87.5 40.8 79.5 32.7 24.0 -9.1 12.7
120°/sec Flexion 28.7 26.9 36.1 26.6 34.9 22.4 25.5 -3.3 21.6
Extension 45.4 28.2 57.4 32.4 54.2 26.4 26.3 -5.6 19.4
180°/sec Flexion 19.9 22.1 27.3 20.6 26.4 19.1 36.7 -3.3 32.7
Extension 30.9 23.0 42.9 25.5 37.1 17.8 39.8 -13.5 20.1
240°/sec Flexion 16.1 18.2 24.8 20.5 22.6 16.7 53.8 -8.9 40.3
Extension 22.8 19.2 34.4 23.2 27.4 15.3 51.2 -20.3 20.1
300°/sec Flexion 13.4 16.4 24.4 21.4 19.1 14.8 81.8 -21.7 42.5
Extension 14.2 15.3 27.1 20.5 21.0 14.2 90.5 -22.5 47.8
a
All extension pretrial to midtrial values except 0°/sec significant (p < .05).
TABLE 3
Biokinetic Swim-Bench Results: Mean-Force, Work, and Power Values at Predetermined Speed Settings for Upper Extremities
Pre- Mid- Post- Pre- Mid- Post- Pre- Mid- Post- Pre- Mid- Post- Pre- Mid- Post-
Variable
trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial trial
S-0 S-2 S-4 S-6 S-8
Forcea (N)
129.2 148.5 189.5 80.3 99.5 128.2 53.8 69.9 87.9 32.3 42.9 58.8 16.0 24.9 29.6
s 57.9 57.6 65.3 61.3 58.1 59.2 46.8 53.7 47.1 32.5 36.1 46.7 24.0 27.0 32.0
Workb (Nm)
89.3 105.6 126.3 42.4 56.6 66.4 25.0 32.6 39.2 15.2 19.6 21.7 4.3 9.8 11.9
s 43.4 38.8 46.3 37.0 35.6 37.2 24.0 28.5 26.4 16.3 18.3 20.0 8.6 12.0 12.7
Powerc
(Nm/sec)
57.8 77.9 92.0 59.6 80.9 95.5 57.2 76.8 97.0 61.5 75.6 81.9 21.7 52.6 66.2
s 43.0 49.6 47.5 55.8 57.0 60.3 54.1 64.6 58.5 55.9 67.1 61.3 43.2 56.8 66.1
a
Significant (p < .05) between trials and speeds.
b
Significant (p < .05) for all trials except S-6.
c
Significant (p < .05) pretrial to posttrial except S-6.
TABLE 4
Total Work Production" and Fatigueb for Upper and Lower Extremities
cate the lack of training specificity between dynamic and quickness and power are sacrificed.17 The inability to produce
static exercise. Investigations by Osternig and associates12 and peak torque at the faster velocities may also be because of the
Wolf13 have shown that isometric peak torque demonstrated demyelinating-denervating process so characteristic of MS.
a low correlation with dynamic peak torque, and the patterns Edstrom hypothesized that in upper motor neuron lesions
of motor unit recruitment varied depending on whether the (with paresis and spasticity), there may be selective disuse of
nature of muscular contraction was static or dynamic. Al- high threshold motor units, which innervate fast twitch (FT)
though dynamic peak torque values for the knee extensors fibers, and overuse of low threshold motor units/which in-
showed a significant increase from pretrial to midtrial dyna- nervate slow twitch (ST) musclefibers.18This situation would
mometer measurements in our study, the results failed to then result in atrophy of the high threshold motor units and
indicate any improvement in dynamic peak torque for the FTfibersand in hypertrophy of the low threshold motor units
knee flexor muscles. The lack of muscular torque gains for and ST fibers. The predominance of ST muscle fibers in
the knee flexors may be related to the general muscular upper motor neuron lesions may indicate that in patients with
weakness and contracture problems faced by patients with MS, muscle function may be compromised.
MS.5, 14 The extent of pyramidal pathway involvement may Perhaps, the most universal symptom encountered by per-
have also compromised the ability of the knee flexor muscu- sons with MS is fatigue. Typically, patients with MS follow a
lature to improve with exercise. Birch et al stated that training diurnal cycle in which they awaken in the morning fairly
cannot influence irrevocable CNS damage.15 rested, progressively fatigue throughout the day, and recover
The general trend for the swim-bench data indicated a in the evening.19 The results of this investigation indicated
significant improvement in the components of strength (force, that muscular work and muscular fatigability can be dramat-
work, and power) for all three experimental trials. The reason ically improved in patients with MS. The results indicated an
why the strength components gains were most evident for the 82 percent increase in the total work measurement for the
upper extremities and not for the lower extremities may be upper extremities and a 330 percent increase in the total work
related to discrepancies in testing protocols for the dynamom- measurement for the lower extremities. The percent decline
eter and swim bench. Specificity of training may have also in peak torque (fatigue measure) for the lower extremities
been a key factor influencing the outcome of the force and decreased from 55 percent to 41 percent; a significant im-
torque measurements. Costill and associates have stated that provement in the ability of the muscles to maintain peak
devices that measure strength must duplicate the actual bio- torque.
mechanical patterns of a particular skill.16
Swim-bench measurements revealed that at the high ten- CONCLUSION
sion settings of S-0 and S-2 and medium tension setting of S-
4, force, work, and power showed significant gains; however, In light of the mentioned factors that may have influenced
at the low tension settings of S-6 and S-8, significant improve- the results of this investigation, we concluded that an aquatic
ments in force, work, and power were not quite so dramatic. exercise program is not harmful to the muscular strength and
The somewhat variable findings at the faster velocities may endurance of patients with MS. The results, although mixed,
be related to the duration and intensity of the aerobically- did indicate that some positive changes in muscular strength
oriented exercise. Elliott stated that muscles that are trained (force and torque), fatigue, work, and power can be expected
at fast velocities become capable of improving strength at from an aquatic exercise program. The small sample group
both fast and slow speeds; however, if training takes place and mixed results of this study would indicate the need for
under conditions of high resistance or slow velocities or both, further research in this particular area.
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