Can Exercise Help Make Walking Less Tiring With MS?

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Key Takeaway

Regular exercise helped many people use less energy when walking, but there is too little research to know how much it helps people with MS.

What They Found

Researchers reviewed 27 studies involving 1,177 people. They measured walking economy, or how much energy a person uses to walk, much like measuring how much fuel a car needs to travel a mile. Overall, people who exercised regularly used less energy while walking after training. The improvement was clear in healthy adults, but it was not clear in people who had experienced a stroke. Only one study included people with MS, so the review could not show whether exercise improved walking economy for them.

Who Should Care and Why

This finding matters to people with MS who feel that walking takes a lot of effort. Using less energy to walk could be helpful, but this review does not show that exercise will ease MS fatigue or make daily tasks easier. If walking is a challenge, ask your MS care team or a physical therapist what kinds of exercise are appropriate for you. Caregivers can help by noticing which activities feel manageable and sharing those observations with the care team. Together, you can choose a plan that fits your abilities rather than assuming one workout works for everyone.

Important Considerations

Because only one study included people with MS, the results cannot tell us which exercises work best for MS-related walking problems. The studies also differed in their participants and methods, which makes the overall result less certain. Researchers did not find that one exercise type or schedule worked better than another, but there may not have been enough studies to spot a difference.

AI-generated summary — for informational purposes only, not medical advice

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Living with MS Specific Symptoms Treatment Updates

Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or are seeking to broaden your understanding of this complex, neurodegenerative disease, navigating the latest research can feel overwhelming. Studies published in respected medical journals like Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) often range from early-stage, exploratory work to advanced clinical trials. These evidence-based findings help shape new disease-modifying therapies, guide symptom management techniques, and deepen our knowledge of MS progression.

However, not all research is created equal. Some clinical research studies may have smaller sample sizes, evolving methodologies, or limitations that warrant careful interpretation. For a more comprehensive, accurate understanding, we recommend reviewing the original source material—accessible via the More Details section above—and consulting with healthcare professionals who specialize in MS care.

By presenting a wide range of MS-focused studies—spanning cutting-edge treatments, emerging therapies, and established best practices—we aim to empower patients, caregivers, and clinicians to stay informed and make well-informed decisions when managing Multiple Sclerosis.

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