OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of an 8-week aquatic exercise training program on functional capacity, balance, and perceptions of fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled design. SETTING: Referral center of an MS society. PARTICIPANTS: Women (n = 32; mean age +/- SD 36.4 +/- 8.2y) with diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS. After undergoing baseline testing by a neurologist, participants were allocated to either an intervention (aquatic training program, n = 17) or a control group (n = 15). INTERVENTIONS: The intervention consisted of an 8-week aquatic training program (3 supervised training sessions per week; session duration, 45 to 60 min; 50% to 75% estimated maximum heart rate). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Six-minute walk test (6-MWT), balance (Berg Balance Scale (BBS)), and perceptions of fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale; (MFIS)) at baseline and after the 8-week intervention. Differences over time between the experimental and control groups were assessed by a 2x2 (group by time) repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Thirty-two women completed the 8-week aquatic training intervention (experimental group, n = 17; control group, n = 15). All outcome measures improved in the experimental group: 6-MWT performance (pretest mean +/- SD 451 +/- 58 m; posttest mean +/- SD 503 +/- 57 m; p < 0.001); BBS (pretest mean +/- SD 53.59 +/- 1.70; posttest mean +/- SD 55.18 +/- 1.18; p < 0.001), and MFIS (pretest mean +/- SD 43.1 +/- 14.6; posttest mean +/- SD 32.8 +/- 5.9; p < 0.01). A significant group-by-time interaction was evident between the experimental and control groups for 6-MWT (p < 0.001, partial eta2 (eta-p2) = 0.551), BBS (p < 0.001, eta-p2 = 0.423), and MFIS (p < 0.001, eta-p2 = 0.679). CONCLUSIONS: Aquatic exercise training improved functional capacity, balance, and perceptions of fatigue in women with MS.

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