title: Exploratory study of physical activity in persons with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore and describe the perceived facilitators and barriers to physical activity, and to examine the physical activity correlates in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-living subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swedish people with CMT disease (N=44; men, 54.5%; median age, 59.5 y [interquartile range, 45.3-64.8 y]).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey included open-ended questions and standardized self-reported scales measuring physical activity, fatigue, activity limitation, self-efficacy for physical activity, fall-related self-efficacy, social support, and enjoyment of physical activity. Physical activity was measured by the Physical Activity Disability Survey-Revised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative content analysis revealed that personal factors such as fatigue, poor balance, muscle weakness, and pain were important barriers for physical activity behavior. Facilitators of physical activity were self-efficacy for physical activity, activity-related factors, and assistive devices. Multiple regression analysis showed that self-efficacy for physical activity (β=.41) and fatigue (β=-.30) explained 31.8% of the variation in physical activity (F2,40=10.78, P=.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the well-known benefits of physical activity, physical activity in people with CMT disease is very sparsely studied. These new results contribute to the understanding of factors important for physical activity behavior in people with CMT disease and can guide health professionals to facilitate physical activity behavior in this group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Section for Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: elisabeth.anens@neuro.uu.se.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anens
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Section for Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emtner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Section for Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Exercise; Fatigue; Neuromuscular diseases; Rehabilitation; Self efficacy