Increasing physical activity in multiple sclerosis: replicating Internet intervention effects using objective and self-report outcomes

• Published in: Journal of rehabilitation research and development Vol. 48; no. 9; pp. 1129 - 1136
• Main Authors: Dlugonski, Deirdre, Motl, Robert W, McAuley, Edward
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of Veterans Affairs 01-01-2011; Superintendent of Documents
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Adult; Aged; Behavior modification; Care and treatment; Disability Evaluation; Exercise; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health aspects; Humans; Internet; Internet access; Intervention; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Physical fitness; Quality of life; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Theory; Vocational rehabilitation; Walking; United States
• ISSN: 0748-7711; 1938-1352
• DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2010.09.0192

Our previous research indicated that an Internet intervention was effective in increasing self-reported physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study examined the efficacy of the same Internet intervention in persons with MS by using both objective and self-report measures of physical activity. Participants (N = 21) wore an accelerometer around the waist for 7 days and then completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) before and after receiving the 12-week Internet intervention. The Internet intervention resulted in moderate increases in accelerometer activity counts (d = 0.68) and steps counts (d = 0.60), and this was paralleled by small increases in IPAQ (d = 0.43) and GLTEQ (d = 0.34) scores. The number of weeks that persons logged on was correlated with change in accelerometer activity counts (r = 0.42) and step counts (r = 0.37) but not change in IPAQ (r = 0.10) or GLTEQ (r = 0.08) scores. The novel contribution of this study was the observation that an Internet intervention was efficacious for increasing physical activity in persons with MS by using both objective and self-report measures.