Pilot study exploring quality of life and barriers to leisure-time physical activity in persons with moderate to severe multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
we sought to assess how impairment (physiological/psychological) and disability (social/environmental) are associated with physical and leisure/recreation activity levels and quality of life (QOL) in people with moderate/severe multiple sclerosis (MS). We conducted a cross-sectional survey at the MS Comprehensive Care Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, of a convenience sample of 43 people (50 eligible) with MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores of 6.0 to 8.0. The main outcome measures were QOL measured by MSQOL-54, physical activity measured by Physical Activity Disability Scale, and leisure/recreation activity measured by Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire. We analyzed the canonical correlations among physical and leisure/recreation activity levels and (1) impairment and (2) QOL.


RESULTS
higher levels of physical and leisure/recreation activity were associated with lower levels of apathy and depression and higher levels of cognition, self-efficacy, and QOL (physical and mental). Major barriers reported included fatigue, lack of motivation, and cost.


CONCLUSIONS
impairments and social/environmental disabilities create barriers to physical and leisure/recreation activity. Additional research is needed to determine, for people with MS, what supports might increase participation in physical and leisure/recreation activities and whether this increase yields improved QOL.
Rehabilitation Sciences Division, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. evanner@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Elizabeth A
EA
Vanner
Pamela
P
Block
Christopher C
CC
Christodoulou
Beverly P
BP
Horowitz
Lauren B
LB
Krupp
D001107:Architectural Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011998:Recreation; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires