title: Premorbid physical activity predicts disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disability progression is a hallmark feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) that has been predicted by a variety of demographic and clinical variables and treatment with disease modifying therapies. This study examined premorbid physical activity as a predictor of change in disability over 24 months in persons with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  269 persons with RRMS completed baseline measures of demographic and clinical variables, premorbid and current physical activity, and disability status. The measure of disability was further completed every six months over the subsequent 24-month period. The data were analyzed with unconditional and conditional latent growth curve modeling (LGCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The unconditional LGCM indicated that there was a significant, linear increase in disability scores over time (p=.0015). The conditional LGCM indicated that premorbid physical activity significantly predicted the linear change in disability scores (standardized β=-.23, p<.005); current physical activity (standardized β=-.02, p=.81), gender (standardized β=-.06, p=.54), age (standardized β=.05, p=.56), duration of MS (standardized β=.11, p=.15), and treatment with disease modifying therapies (standardized β=-.03, p=.77) did not predict change in disability scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current research highlights the possible role of premorbid physical activity for lessening disability progression over time in persons with RRMS. Additional research is necessary on physical activity initiated after the diagnosis of RRMS as a lifestyle approach for bolstering physiological reserve and preventing disability progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. robmotl@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dlugonski
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pilutti
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sandroff
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009043:Motor Activity; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011379:Prognosis; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents