Abstract
Background: Exercise training is beneficial, but most persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are sedentary and physically inactive. This has prompted a new focus on the promotion of lifestyle physical activity in MS. We previously designed, tested, and refined a behavioral intervention delivered through the Internet that successfully increased lifestyle physical activity in MS, but have not evaluated the effects on secondary symptomatic and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes. Objective: We conducted a 6-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examined the efficacy of an Internet- delivered, behavioral intervention for improving outcomes of fatigue, depression, anxiety, pain, sleep quality, and HRQOL in 82 ambulatory persons with MS. The secondary aim was to replicate previous results regarding change in free-living physical activity. Results: There was a significant and positive effect of the intervention on fatigue severity (ρ=.001, η?2=.15) and its physical impact (ρ=.008, η?2=.09), depression (ρ=.006, η?2=.10), and anxiety (ρ=.006, η?2=.10). There were non-significant improvements in pain (ρ=.08, η?2=.04), sleep quality (ρ=.06, 2=.05), and physical HRQOL (ρ=.06, η ?2=.05). We replicated our previous results by demonstrating an increase in self-reported physical activity (ρ=.001, η?2=.13).Conclusions: Our results support behavioral interventions targeting lifestyle physical activity as an alternative approach for managing symptoms in MS.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 594-601 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Multiple Sclerosis Journal |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2014 |
Keywords
- Randomized controlled trial
- behavioral intervention
- lifestyle physical activity
- social cognitive theory
- symptoms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology