Randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention targeting symptoms and physical activity in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Our results support behavioral interventions targeting lifestyle physical activity as an alternative approach for managing symptoms in MS.

Does the Effect of a Physical Activity Behavioral Intervention Vary by Characteristics of People with Multiple Sclerosis?

“…Of the 82 participants randomized to the control and intervention conditions, 37 completed the intervention condition and 39 completed the control condition. 8 The subsequent analyses are based on those who completed the study.…”

“…This article presents a secondary analysis of data from a recently completed randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing the efficacy of an Internet-delivered behavioral intervention based on SCT for increasing physical activity and managing symptoms of MS. 8 This secondary analysis examines variability in intervention efficacy and the characteristics of people with MS (ie, clinical course or type of MS, disability status, weight status, and use of disease-modifying or symptomatic medications) as factors that might explain the variation in the efficacy of the intervention for increasing physical activity. The examination of moderator variables is important for 1) understanding who is most likely to benefit from the currently designed behavioral interventions and 2) suggesting the need for refining behavioral interventions for those who demonstrate little or no change in physical activity.…”

“…8 Participants were recruited through flyers distributed by the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis and through our laboratory database. Of 511 individuals who initially expressed interest in participating in the study, 230 were contacted for description of the study and screening of the inclusion criteria.…”

“…1,2 However, people with this immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system are often physically inactive compared with the general population. 3 Researchers have identified variables from social-cognitive theory (SCT) 4 as correlates of physical activity 5 that have informed the design of behavioral interventions delivered through the Internet for successfully increasing this health behavior in people with MS. [6][7][8] Inspection of the data from such behavioral interventions reveals the presence of interindividual variability in the pattern and amount of change in physical activity. 7 This suggests that some people are benefiting from the behavioral intervention more than others, and this variability might be explained by the characteristics of the participants.…”

Exercise Training in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

“…The ESs have been used in previous physical activity and exercise training interventions in people with MS to express the magnitude of differences within and between groups after the interventions. 5,[29][30][31][32] The ESs were interpreted as small, moderate, and large based on criteria of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8, respectively. 33 Statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05.…”