Increasing Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis: Replicating Internet Intervention Effects Using Objective and Self-Report Outcomes
By Dlugonski, Deirdre; Motl, Robert W.; McAuley, Edward; Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Volume 48, Number 9, pages 1129-1135Publication Date: 2011
Study examined the efficacy of an Internet intervention designed to increase physical activity behavior in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The intervention content was provided as text supplemented by video and pdf files and focused on the four principal elements of social cognitive theory: self efficacy, outcome expectations, impediments, and goal setting. This yielded 4 modules: Getting Started, Planning for Success, Beating the Odds, and Sticking With It. Participants were 21 independently ambulatory individuals with MS and a mean age of 46 years, of whom all but 2 were women. Participants wore an accelerometer around the waist for 7 days and then completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the self-measured Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) before and after receiving the 12-week Internet intervention. The intervention resulted in moderate increases in accelerometer activity counts and steps counts, and this was paralleled by small increases in IPAQ and GLTEQ scores. The number of weeks that persons logged onto the intervention website was correlated with change in accelerometer activity counts and step counts but not with change in IPAQ or GLTEQ scores. The novel contribution of the 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.
Published by:
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (Web Site: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov )
Link to text: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/11/489/dlugonski489.html
