Feasibility and Pre–Post Changes Associated with a 12-Week Treadmill Walking Training Programme on Walking Performance, Physical Function, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Single-Arm Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: Walking impairment and fatigue are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and contribute to reduced physical function and quality of life (QoL). This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and pre–post changes associated with a 12-week treadmill walking training (TWT) programme on walking performance, physical function, fatigue, and QoL in people with MS. Methods: Single-arm pilot study with pre–post assessments (T1–T2). Eleven adults with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] ≤ 6) completed supervised TWT for 12 weeks (two 25 min sessions/week) at the Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Soria (Spain). Outcomes included SF-36, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 4 m gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Within-participant changes were analysed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests as appropriate; effect sizes were reported as appropriate for the statistical test. Results: SF-36 total score did not change significantly (p = 0.160), while general health (p = 0.039) and vitality (p = 0.043) improved. Walking performance improved (TUG, p = 0.007; 4 m gait speed, p < 0.001), and physical function increased (SPPB, p = 0.003). Fatigue impact decreased (MFIS total, p = 0.015; physical, p = 0.007; psychosocial, p = 0.026), whereas the cognitive subscale did not change significantly (p = 0.094). Adherence was 91.7%, and no adverse events were reported. Conclusions: In this pilot sample, a 12-week TWT programme was feasible and safe and was associated with improvements in walking performance, physical function, and fatigue, with QoL changes limited to specific SF-36 domains. These findings support proceeding to a randomised controlled trial to establish efficacy. These findings should be interpreted as preliminary and exploratory, given the single-arm pre–post study design.