Effect of 8 weeks resistance training on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, psychological status and depression level in female patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Disrupted hypothalamo – pituitary - adrenal (HPA) axis, psychological impairment and depression are widespread comorbidity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Exercise training may regulate HPA axis and improve psychological status in these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks resistance training on HPA axis, psychological status and depression level in female patients with MS.

Twenty-seven women with MS disease (32.3 ± 6.9 year of old) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of 2.0 ± 1.3 participated in this study. Subjects were divided into control group (n=13) or training group (n=14) randomly, according their EDSS scores. The training group performed progressive resistance training program, 45 min with 50-70% 1RM, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Psychological status, depression level and ACTH and cortisol concentration were assessed before and after the intervention. Independent sample t-test was used for mean differences between groups.

The results demonstrated that psychological status (11.2%, P=0.04) and depression level (27.4%, P=0.01) improved and ACTH (11.6%, P=0.03) and cortisol (9.9%, P=0.04) concentration reduced significantly after 8 weeks resistance training.

In summary it seems that resistance training utilized in this study effective for psychological status and depression level improvement in female patients with MS by regulating HPA axis.