TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis
T2 - Meeting the Guidelines at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Pedullà, Ludovico
AU - Santoyo-Medina, Carme
AU - Novotna, Klara
AU - Moumdjian, Lousin
AU - Smedal, Tori
AU - Arntzen, Ellen Christin
AU - Van Der Linden, Marietta L.
AU - Learmonth, Yvonne
AU - Kalron, Alon
AU - Güngör, Feray
AU - Nedeljkovic, Una
AU - Kos, Daphne
AU - Jonsdottir, Johanna
AU - Coote, Susan
AU - Tacchino, Andrea
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/4/1
Y1 - 2023/4/1
N2 - Background and Purpose: Regular physical activity (PA) helps to reduce the severity of physical and mental symptoms and improves quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Based on current evidence and expert opinion, the recent multiple sclerosis guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes/week of PA. This study presents the results of a survey analyzing whether and how PwMS met the guidelines before and during the pandemic. Methods: We developed and disseminated an international online survey between December 2020 and July 2021, investigating changes in self-reported PA type, duration, frequency, and intensity due to the COVID-19 outbreak in PwMS with differing disability levels. Results: Among respondents (n = 3810), 3725 were eligible. The proportion of those who conducted at least one activity decreased with increasing disability level at both time points (pre and during). Overall 60% of respondents met the guidelines before the pandemic (mild: 64.43%; moderate: 51.53%; severe: 39.34%; χ2(2)= 109.13, P < 0.01); a reduction of approximately 10% occurred during the pandemic in all disability groups (mild: 54.76%; moderate: 42.47%; severe: 29.48%; χ2(2)= 109.67, P < 0.01). Respondents with higher disability participated more in physical therapy and less in walking, cycling, and running at both time points. Most respondents reported practicing PA at a moderate intensity at both time points; frequency and duration of sessions decreased as disability level increased. Discussion and Conclusions: The percentage of those meeting the guidelines reduced with increasing disability level and during the pandemic. PA type and intensity varied widely across the disability categories. Interventions accounting for disability level are required to enable more PwMS to reap the benefits of PA. Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A415).
AB - Background and Purpose: Regular physical activity (PA) helps to reduce the severity of physical and mental symptoms and improves quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Based on current evidence and expert opinion, the recent multiple sclerosis guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes/week of PA. This study presents the results of a survey analyzing whether and how PwMS met the guidelines before and during the pandemic. Methods: We developed and disseminated an international online survey between December 2020 and July 2021, investigating changes in self-reported PA type, duration, frequency, and intensity due to the COVID-19 outbreak in PwMS with differing disability levels. Results: Among respondents (n = 3810), 3725 were eligible. The proportion of those who conducted at least one activity decreased with increasing disability level at both time points (pre and during). Overall 60% of respondents met the guidelines before the pandemic (mild: 64.43%; moderate: 51.53%; severe: 39.34%; χ2(2)= 109.13, P < 0.01); a reduction of approximately 10% occurred during the pandemic in all disability groups (mild: 54.76%; moderate: 42.47%; severe: 29.48%; χ2(2)= 109.67, P < 0.01). Respondents with higher disability participated more in physical therapy and less in walking, cycling, and running at both time points. Most respondents reported practicing PA at a moderate intensity at both time points; frequency and duration of sessions decreased as disability level increased. Discussion and Conclusions: The percentage of those meeting the guidelines reduced with increasing disability level and during the pandemic. PA type and intensity varied widely across the disability categories. Interventions accounting for disability level are required to enable more PwMS to reap the benefits of PA. Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A415).
KW - COVID-19
KW - multiple sclerosis
KW - online survey
KW - physical activity
KW - recommendation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150821466&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000430
DO - 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000430
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C2 - 36753458
AN - SCOPUS:85150821466
SN - 1557-0576
VL - 47
SP - 112
EP - 121
JO - Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
JF - Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
IS - 2
ER -
