Effects of Endurance Training under Normobaric, Hypoxic Conditions on Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: results of a Randomized, Prospective Pilot Study

INTERVENTION: Intervention 1: therapy group: endurance training in normobaric hypoxia. symptom‐specific inpatient rehabilitation (period of 14 days) + 12x 45 min endurance training on a bicycle ergometer, six days a week for two weeks, either under hypoxic conditions (high altitude chamber (2500m above sea level/15.5% vol.% O2) Intervention 2: therapy group: endurance training in normal conditions. symptom‐specific inpatient rehabilitation (period of 14 days) + 12 x 45 min endurance training on a bicycle ergometer, six days a week for two weeks, either under sea level conditions Intervention 3: control group symptom‐specific inpatient rehabilitation over a period of 14 days. CONDITION: G35 ‐ Multiple sclerosis PRIMARY OUTCOME: fatigue: questionnaire: Würzburger Erschöpfungsinventar Multiple Sklerose (WEIMuS). Baseline, 7th and 14th day after baseline. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Endurance capacity: 6 minute walk test recorded at baseline and 14th day after baseline. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients over 18 years of age MS according to the McDonald criteria [19] chronic progressive or relapsing‐remitting MS with walking ability (EDSS = 6) and self‐reported fatigue Written informed consent