title: Web-based interventions in multiple sclerosis: the potential of tele-rehabilitation.
abstract: The World Wide Web is increasingly used in therapeutic settings. In this regard, internet-based interventions have proven effective in ameliorating several health behaviors, amongst them physical activity behavior. Internet-delivered interventions have shown positive effects on physical activity and physical function in persons with MS (pwMS). In this review we give an overview on several online exercise programs for pwMS and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of web-based interventions. Although participants of online exercise programs reported a high acceptance and satisfaction with the intervention, decreasing compliance was a major issue. A possible remedy might be the implementation of game-design elements to increase compliance and long-term adherence to internet-delivered interventions. In addition we believe that the integration of social networks seems to be a promising strategy.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sportwissenschaft und Sport der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tallner
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sportwissenschaft und Sport der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neurology, Caritas Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim gGmbH, Uhlandstr. 7, 97980 Bad Mergentheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäurer
keywords: exercise; multiple sclerosis; rehabilitation