title: An exploratory study of physical activity and perceived barriers to exercise in ambulant people with neuromuscular disease compared with unaffected controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine activity patterns and perceived barriers to exercise in ambulant people with neuromuscular disease compared with ambulatory controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled parallel group design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic and community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen ambulatory people with neuromuscular disease and 18 ambulatory controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart rates were recorded during sedentary activity and treadmill walking at various speeds to indicate activity threshold (flex heart rate), followed by ambulatory heart rate monitoring over two weekdays and one weekend day. The EPIC-Norfolk Physical Activity Questionnaire-2 and Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey were completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with neuromuscular disease were less active than controls as estimated by both the EPIC-Norfolk Physical Activity Questionnaire-2, P<0.004, and the flex heart rate method, P<0.05. The number of perceived barriers was greater in the neuromuscular group, a mean of 7 (SD 4.2) barriers, compared with mean 3 (SD 2.1) barriers for controls, P<0.05. Specific barriers differed, with the barriers of 'pain', 'lack of energy' and 'exercise is too difficult' showing the greatest discrepancy and being higher in the neuromuscular disease group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity, as determined by two different methods, was less and barriers to exercise greater in people with neuromuscular disease compared with healthy controls. Specific barriers were different in the two groups. This information could assist in the design of achievable and effective exercise programmes for people with neuromuscular disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, Derby City Hospital, Derby, UK. margaret.phillips@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Flemming
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsintzas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies