Aerobic exercise to improve fitness, walking ability and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial

INTERVENTION: Subjects are randomly assigned to one of four conditions (biased coin randomization): 1. Bicycle ergometry 2. Hand ergometry 3. Rowing 4. Waitlist control The goal is to have 10 subjects in each group, 8 weeks with 2‐3 sessions per week CONDITION: Multiple Sclerosis ; Nervous System Diseases ; Multiple Sclerosis PRIMARY OUTCOME: Physical fitness pre and post intervention as determined by a standardized ergometer test SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Walking ability (6‐minute walk test); 2. Cognitive function (assessed by a neuropsychological battery including learning and memory, attention, executive function and processing speed); 3. Depression (IDS‐30R); 4. Fatigue (MFIS); ; Assessed pre and post intervention. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients with secondary‐progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) 2. Disease duration <20 years 3. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 4‐6