Home-based Pilates For Mood Symptoms Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Evidence supports positive effects of exercise on mood states among people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). However, non-traditional exercise modes like Pilates, a low to moderate intensity, floor-based mind-body exercise, remain understudied. PURPOSE: This single blind, randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of eight weeks of twice weekly home-based Pilates training, compared to delayed-start wait-list condition, on mood among 80 persons (47.1 ± 10.0 y; 69 female) with physician diagnosed MS (Patient Determined Disease Steps score < 3), no previous Pilates experience, and no other significant physical or psychiatric condition. METHODS: Participants were randomized to twice-weekly home-based Pilates sessions guided by a DVD or wait-list control. The well-validated 30-item Profile of Mood States - Brief (POMS-B) assessed the intensity of feelings of tension, depressed mood, energy and fatigue at baseline, weeks two, four, six and eight. Compliance was documented in weekly exercise diaries and followed-up by a phone call. Intention-to-treat, RM-ANCOVA adjusted for baseline physical activity, examined between-group differences across time. Hedges’ d quantified the magnitude of differences in outcome change. RESULTS: There were significant group X time interactions on feelings of depressed mood, fatigue, and total mood disturbance (TMD) (all p < 0.02). Compared to wait-list, Pilates resulted in significant moderate improvements in feelings of depressed mood at week 4 (d = 0.44), and feelings of fatigue at week 6 (d = 0.56). CONCLUSION: Home-based Pilates training resulted in moderate magnitude improvements in mood states among PwMS. Findings support the potential of home-based Pilates as an alternative low-impact exercise modality to improve mood among PwMS for whom traditional aerobic and resistance exercise may be contraindicated due to mobility limitations.