%0 Journal Article
%T Inflammatory Cytokines and Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis
%A Margarida Florindo
%J ISRN Neurology
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/151572
%X Background. Besides the functional benefits, physical activity triggers a hormonal pattern of immunologic responses with an anti-inflammatory effect in individuals who suffer from multiple sclerosis. Purpose. To analyze the influence of physical activity on multiple sclerosis and identify the intensity threshold which triggers the anti-inflammatory physiological mechanism. Methodology. A systematic review was made on the databases Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PloS, PEDro, and Web of Science. Studies from references of retrieved articles were also collected. The criteria included studies published in English and random studies referred to the inflammatory process, connected with physical activity in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The studies were methodologically analyzed by two reviewers according to PEDro scale. Results and Discussion. Five random control trial studies were identified. The results revealed that with physical activity there seems to have a modulation on anti-inflammatory cytokines which improve physical and cardiorespiratory performance. More investigation is required. Conclusions. Physical activity influences the quality of life and it seems to stimulate the presence of anti-inflammatory cytokines. With light physical activity the cellular activity is lower, while with moderate activity there seems to have more capacity to help in the resolution of an inflammatory situation. 1. Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease, with an unclear etiological mechanism, and characterized by lymphocyte infiltration, several inflammatory patterns, and axonal loss [1, 2]. Affecting over two million individuals in the world, MS is the most common cause of disability in young adults, interfering with functional mobility and autonomy [3]. Physical activity has been referred to as a factor that increases the immunological cells circulation, triggering a physiological mechanism and contributing to the plasticity and the neuroprotection of the nervous system [4, 5]. The physical activity adequacy to the stage of the disease, during a physiotherapy intervention, allows a strengthening of immunity, together with the development of movement, cognitive and functional independence abilities. During the last years, several studies have been made on the physiological benefits that physical activity causes in the immune system. When physical activity is present, the human body activates a hormonal pattern for an immunologic response [6, 7], which allows an immunologic homeostatic environment balance, by the inflammatory
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.neurology/2014/151572/