Most Common Types of Physical Activity Self-Selected by People with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

The promotion of physical activity for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) would benefit from information about the common types of physical activity self-selected by this population. This study examined the most frequent types of physical activity self-reported by a large sample of people with MS. The data were collected as part of the baseline assessment of a longitudinal investigation of physical activity in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The participants (N = 272) were sent a battery of questionnaires through the US Postal Service that included the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire for assessing types of physical activity performed during the previous year. Walking was ranked number 1 for both the first and second most common types of physical activity self-selected by people with MS, and it was ranked number 4 as the third most common type of self-selected physical activity. Collectively, 79% of the sample reported walking as a frequent form of self-selected physical activity in the previous year. Other notable types of physical activities self-selected by people with MS were gardening (44%), weight training (34%), bicycling (30%), and calisthenics (20%). This information may assist clinicians and practitioners in the development of physical activity programs and recommendations for people with MS. Int J MS Care. 2011;13:16-20.T he study of physical activity behavior and its consequences among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is of increasing interest. Existing research has indicated that individuals with MS are generally physically inactive and sedentary, 1 but that physical activity is associated with many desirable outcomes in this population, including improvements in symptoms, function, disability, and quality of life.2,3 This paradox may be related to the recommendation by clinicians of a sedentary lifestyle among people with MS as a means of avoiding fatigue. This belief has been refuted by more recent evidence-based research, and there is emerging interest among clinicians and practitioners in the promotion of physical activity as an integral part of treatment and health maintenance in those with MS.In order to promote physical activity in this population, a comprehensive understanding of the actual types of physical activity self-selected by people with MS would be beneficial. To date, limited information is available on the different modes of physical activity performed by individuals with MS, 1 but such information is important for four primary reasons. First, clinicians and practitioners who recommend physical activity to their patients with MS would benefit from knowing the most frequent types of physical activity self-selected in this population. Second, such information would set the research agenda for evaluating the consequences of the most frequent types of physical activity self-selected in people with MS. Third, this information would better inform the development and validation of outcome measures for quantifying frequent types of physical activity in people with MS. Finally, such in...

Physical activity and exercise priorities in community dwelling people with multiple sclerosis: a Delphi study

“…A focus on priorities rather than simple frequency of activity revealed some interesting discrepancies with other literature. For example, despite identifying similar activities, Weikert and colleagues [11] found that weight training and yoga were the first and third most commonly reported activity respectively amongst their participants. However, in this study weight training and yoga were represented in the responses of Round 1 but were later eliminated during the selecting and limiting Round (Round 2).…”

“…Exercise on the other hand is defined as "a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured and repetitive" [10, p.126] and aims to either improve or maintain physical fitness. Studies demonstrate that pwMS participate in a wide range of physical activity, however, research to date has rarely considered the potential utility of other physical activities which are unplanned and which could be both motivating and easy to integrate into everyday life for pwMS [11][12][13][14]. Likewise, none of the studies addressed why these activities were preferred by pwMS.…”

Physical activity and multiple sclerosis: new insights regarding inactivity

“…This device is a single axis accelerometer that may not have the capacity to measure physical activity without major vertical displacement of the center of mass (e.g., cycling). This device further is not water proof and does not capture aquatic activities (e.g., water aerobics or swimming) that can be common forms of physical activity in persons with MS . The use of self‐report measures of physical activity, particularly in persons with MS, might present a possible limitation, as cognitive impairment is highly prevalent, disabling, and poorly managed in persons with MS .…”

Does a waist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer quantify community ambulation in persons with multiple sclerosis?

“…By comparison, the results from the current study suggest that accelerometry can capture the amount and quality of walking (e.g., speed) in a real-world environment. When considering the results of this study along with previous research [4,[6][7]9], substantial evidence exists supporting the application of commercially available, waist-worn accelerometers for measuring community-based ambulation in persons with MS. The findings of this study extend research examining accelerometry as an objective marker of walking impairment.…”

“…Existing data indicate that movement or activity counts from an accelerometer worn around the waist capture inter-and intraindividual variation in overground walking within a clinical setting [7], accelerometer movement or activity counts over a 7 d period are associated with spatiotemporal parameters of gait [8], and walking is a primary self-selected physical activity among persons with MS [9]. One of the most important untested assumptions is that community walking itself is a major contributor to the accelerometer signal in persons with MS.…”