title: Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and aerobic capacity in persons with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is substantial evidence that exercise training improves aerobic capacity among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but less is known about the associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviors with aerobic capacity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined if objectively-measured moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and light (LPA) physical activity and sedentary behavior were associated with peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) measured using an established protocol for conducting a maximal, incremental exercise test in persons with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved a cross-sectional, observational study design and included 49 persons with MS. Participants wore an accelerometer around the waist during the waking hours for a 7-day period as a measure of physical activity and sedentary behaviors, and completed a maximal, incremental exercise test on an electronically-braked, computer-controlled cycle ergometer with open-circuit spirometry for measuring VO2peak.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VO2peak was significantly correlated with MVPA (r=0.53, p<0.001) and LPA (r=0.39, p<0.01), but not sedentary behavior (r=-0.12, p=0.44). Linear regression analysis indicated that MVPA (B=0.19, SE B=0.04, β=0.51, p<0.001) and LPA (B=0.02, SE B=0.01, β=0.30, p<0.05), but not sedentary behavior (B=-0.01, SE B=0.01, β=-0.14, p=0.26), explained significant variance in VO2peak (R2=0.40).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provide the first evidence that MVPA and LPA represent concurrent correlates of VO2peak and both could be targeted for improving aerobic capacity in persons with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address: robmotl@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, USA. Electronic address: bsandroff@kesslerfoundation.org.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sandroff
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: lpilutti@uottawa.edu.
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pilutti
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA. Electronic address: klaren2@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Klaren
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: tbaynard@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baynard
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: fernhall@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernhall
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aerobic capacity; Fitness; Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; Multiple sclerosis; Sedentary behavior