Effect of exercise interventions on anxiety in people with multiple sclerosis; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that exercise can alleviate symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is unclear whether exercise alleviates symptoms of anxiety, present in one-third of people with MS. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates whether exercise interventions are effective in reducing anxiety in people with MS. Methods: CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to March 30, 2018. The primary outcome was postintervention difference in anxiety scores between intervention and control groups. Using a restricted maximum like..