Increasing Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis Using a Behavioral Intervention

Abstract

The present study adopted an interrupted time-series design for identifying the possibility of behavioral reactivity and examining the effect of an Internet-delivered behavioral intervention for increasing self-reported and objectively-measured physical activity among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Participants (n = 18) wore an accelerometer for 7 days and completed a battery of questionnaires to measure physical activity at 3 time points (before and after a 3-month period of no treatment and again after a 3-month period of treatment). There was a small change in objectively-measured, but not self-reported, physical activity in the period of no treatment, whereas there was a large increase in self-reported and objectively-measured physical activity in the period of treatment. These findings both complement and extend previous research and further support the efficacy of the current Internet behavioral intervention for increasing physical activity in persons with MS.