High-intensity interval training reduces neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in persons with multiple sclerosis during inpatient rehabilitation
Niklas Joisten, Sebastian Proschinger, Annette Rademacher, Alexander Schenk, Wilhelm Bloch, Clemens Warnke, Roman Gonzenbach, Jan Kool, Jens Bansi, Philipp Zimmer
Abstract
In persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with disability status, symptomatology and disease activity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves many symptoms in PwMS and may positively influence disease progression. Here, we present results from a randomized controlled trial during inpatient rehabilitation on immediate (single bout) and training (3-week intervention) effects of HIIT versus moderate continuous training on NLR and related cellular inflammation markers. Only HIIT reduced the NLR over the 3-week intervention period. These training effects might be due to repetitive inflammatory states with compensatory anti-inflammatory counterbalancing after each HIIT session.