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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: ptj.20090345v1 90/7/1001    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Google Scholar Articles by Beckerman, H. Articles by Lankhorst, G. J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Beckerman, H. Articles by Lankhorst, G. J. Related Collections Health and Wellness/Prevention Multiple Sclerosis Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Physical Activity Behavior of People With Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding How They Can Become More Physically Active

H. Beckerman, PT, PhD, is Senior Researcher, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University and VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
V. de Groot, MD, PhD, is Rehabilitation Physician and Senior Researcher, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University and VU University Medical Center.
M.A. Scholten, MD, was a medical student, Faculty of Medicine, VU University Medical Center, at the time of the study.
J.C.E. Kempen, PT, MSc, is a PhD candidate, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University and VU University Medical Center.
G.J. Lankhorst, MD, PhD, is Rehabilitation Physician, Professor, and Head of the Department, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University and VU University Medical Center.

Address all correspondence to Dr Beckerman at: h.beckerman{at}vumc.nl.

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are less physically active than those without the disease. Understanding the modifiable factors that are related to physical inactivity is important for developing effective physical activity programs.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine levels of physical activity and to determine factors related to the physical activity behavior of adults with MS by use of the Physical Activity for People With a Disability (PAD) model. The PAD model combines the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework of disability and theoretical models of physical activity behavior.

Design: This investigation was a cross-sectional study.

Methods: The study participants were 106 people who had MS and who, since their definite diagnosis, had been participating in a prospective cohort study. Physical activity was assessed with the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity. The independent roles of disease characteristics and demographic, cognitive-behavioral, and environmental factors were determined using questionnaires for which reliability and validity have been established.

Results: The median total level of physical activity of participants with MS (mean age=42.8 years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale score=3, disease duration=6 years) was 10.68 metabolic equivalents x h/d (interquartile range=3.69–16.57). On average, participants spent 30 h/wk on activities with metabolic equivalents of 2 or more (interquartile range=10.7–45.0 h/wk). The regression models predicting physical activity behavior on the basis of demographic (29.4%) and disease-related (28.3%) variables explained more variance than the models based on cognitive-behavioral (12.0%) and environmental (9.1%) variables. Combining significant variables yielded a final regression model that explained 37.2% of the variance in physical activity. Significant determinants were disease severity, a disability pension, and having children to care for.

Limitations: Changes in physical activity behavior were not measured.

Conclusions: Participants with MS were less active if their disease was more severe, if they received a disability pension, or if they had children to care for. The PAD model was helpful in understanding the physical activity behavior of participants with MS.

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