FlexToBa for People With Multiple Sclerosis

Persons with MS are less likely to be active than their healthy counterparts, a statistic that is compounded by the symptom manifestations of MS. However, there is increasing evidence to support the importance of physical activity in MS. Unfortunately, structured, safe, and efficacious physical activity programs that are often conducted in medical or university settings are often not accessible to many older adults with or without MS. We propose to conduct a randomized controlled pilot trial testing the efficacy of a DVD-delivered physical activity intervention which targets factors that have the potential to reduce disability in older adults with MS. This DVD-based intervention has been previously approved by the IRB at the University of Illinois for a similar study with low-active, community-dwelling older adults (IRB Protocol Number: 09765). This novel intervention provides systematic, programmatic activities with alternative versions of each exercise that allow individuals of all capabilities to complete the program successfully. It focuses on improving flexibility, strength, and balance and has been demonstrated to be feasible, well-accepted, and efficacious in a large sample of older adults without MS. Importantly, intervention resulted in clinically significant improvements in the Short Physical Performance Battery, reliable determinant of disability, institutionalization, morbidity, and mortality. If such an intervention was equally successful in older persons with MS, this could have considerable public health impact.

Inclusion criteria

• being non-active, defined as reporting not engaging in regular activity (30 minutes accumulated per day) on more than two days of the week in the prior six months;
• aged 50 years and older;
• fluent in English;
• relapse-free in the last 30 days;
• ambulatory with minimal assistance(i.e., walk independently or with a single-point assistive walking device such as a cane);
• the provision of medical clearance for participation in a physical activity program by participants' physicians, along with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of MS (communication with physicians will be facilitated by research staff).

Exclusion criteria

• self-reported physical activity on a regular basis within the last six months (2 times or more per week);
• younger than 50 years of age;
• relapse in the last 30 days;
• no regular access to a television;
• no physician-confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis;
• unable to successfully score above 21 (out of 39)on the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status questionnaire (TICS-M).