Eight weeks resistance training reduces interlukin-17 in women with multiple sclerosis

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks resistance training on interlukin-17 (IL-17) in women with MS. Material & Methods: Twenty seven women with MS disease in a range of 18-48 year of old and EDSS lower than 4.5 participated in this study as the subject. Subjects were divided into control group (n=13) or training group (n=14) randomly. The training group performed progressive resistance training program, 3 days a week for 8 weeks, whereas control group continued their usual routine activities. Serum level of IL-17 was measured by ELISA kits before and after training. Results: The disability score and IL-17 were significantly decreased from 1.8 to 1.3 and from 716.3 to 601.3 pg/ml respectively in test MS subjects after 8 weeks resistance training. Conclusions: In summary, the results suggest that resistance training has useful anti-inflammatory effects by decrease in serum IL-17 production in women with MS.