| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive, autoimmune neurodegenerative disease that affects an estimated 400,000 Americans. Disease symptoms often cause several mobility impairments. There are a number of benefits from PA on MS including; reduced spasticity, increased muscle strength, improved flexibility etc. Unfortunately, individuals with MS participate in far less PA when compared to the general population. MS patients face PA barriers often not reported by the general population including, heat sensitivity, gait impairments, and fatigue. Due to the health benefits of PA in MS and their decreased PA participation, as compared to the general population, maintaining regular PA becomes of utmost importance in MS patients. Research suggests that MS patients who have greater exercise self-efficacy (SE) are more likely to participate in regular PA. There has been little research in MS patients that has examined interventions designed to increase SE and PA without using structured exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if a 12-week theory-based book club intervention was effective in increasing PA and SE levels in persons with MS (n = 11). The book club intervention included 60-minute, weekly meetings in which the participants met to discuss PA topics and books.;There were significant increases in PA (accelerometer daily step counts) and exercise SE from baseline to post intervention in the intervention group. The post accelerometer daily step counts and activity counts were not significantly different from the healthy controls. Based on the findings, an innovative book-club intervention may be effective for improving PA and exercise SE. The results also suggest that after participation in a book club intervention such as this, women with MS may be able to increase their PA level to that of healthy controls. This study presents a unique intervention to engage women with MS to participate in PA. Future studies should examine the effects of a theory-based book club intervention on long-term PA adherence in the MS population by implementing longer interventions and follow-ups. Qualitative data should also be collected to obtain a more in-depth assessment about the reasons persons with MS may or may not adhere to PA. |
