Processes
RPE, SD
-20, DISEASE COURSE
Twenty-five of 101 (26%) patients screened were eligible and three of 25 (12%) declined to participate. Two were interested but overwhelmed with their current situation or wanted to focus on their own primary goals. One declined because not wanting to be restrained to one intervention. ‘EDSS’ and ‘able to attend aquatic therapy’ produced the most negative cases regarding eligibility, followed by comorbidities and disease course (Fig. Retention between TAverage length of stay in the rehabilitation facility were 31.6 (SD = 5.2, min-max = 25–41, n = 10) full days for the MAT-group and 34.2 (SD = 6.2, min-max = 22–41, n = 10) full days for the SET-group and both groups managed to attain the required minimum number of sessions (Table Regarding fidelity, a total of 122 gym-based and 76 pool-based MAT-sessions were logged and analyzed for MAT-components, as noted by the respective therapists. In an average week, 18.5%/17.9% (gym/pool) of training content targeted standing balance, 46.2%/50.1% dynamic balance/functional leg strength, and 35.3%/30.2% targeted agility-like exercises, showing that therapists provided all three MAT components. Average heart rate during all tracked gym-based sessions was 93.7 bpm (SD = 11.3, min-max = 78.8-114.1, n = 11), average maximum heart rate was 116.9 bpm (SD = 11.8, min-max = 99.1-132.3, n = 11).In SET, strength sessions included an average 2.8 exercises (goal: three), and participants performed an average 99.5% of the prescribed load. Endurance sessions lasted for an average 21min26s (goal: 22 min) and average heart rate corresponded to 107.1 bpm (SD = 14.4, min-max = 90.5-127.9, n = 10). The average prescribed training intensity for cycling sessions was 57.5 W (SD = 24.2, min-max = 35–120, n = 10), while average actual load was 53.5 W (SD = 34.2, min-max = 24.5-139.6, n = 10), corresponding to an average 88% completion of the prescribed load (SD = 20, min-max = 54–116, n = 10). Average RPE (6-20) during cycling was 12.8 (SD = 0.5, min-max = 11.7–13.2, n = 10) (goal: 11–13).
Adherence results are shown for MAT, SET and both groups combined (‘total’). Results are also given separately for gym/pool sessions and strength/endurance sessions11.7(8–14)MAT = multimodal agility-based exercise training; SET = strength and endurance training