Relative to the control subjects, participants in the exercise group demonstrated a smaller decrease in muscular strength, a decrease in functional capacity (especially significant at 3 months; p<0.001), less pain, and a lower perceived deterioration in quality of life. For the non-exercising subjects, muscle spasticity increased significantly at 3 months, whereas there was a decrease for the physically active participants (p=0.005). There was no significant change in fatigue for either group.

While there appears to be unfavorable consequences for ALS sufferers to participate in physical activity, this study has shown that some of the diminished health factors associated with ALS can be attenuated with exercise. While both exercising and non-exercising subjects did experience declines in health, smaller decreases were seen in the physically active participants.