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Published on: January 29, 2016
Transitional shifts in exercise behavior among women with multiple sclerosis
Susan S Levy1, Kin-Kit Li, Bradley J Cardinal
1School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-7251, USA. slevy@mail.sdsu.edu
Disability and Health Journal
|December 3, 2010
Summary
The transtheoretical model (TTM) effectively motivates women with multiple sclerosis (MS) to increase physical activity. This approach helps reduce MS symptoms like pain and fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Exercise science
- Behavioral psychology
- Neurology
Background:
- Physical activity is recommended for managing multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms.
- Theoretical models of exercise behavior change, like the transtheoretical model (TTM), have not been extensively studied in MS populations.
- The TTM has shown success in the general population and promising early results in individuals with MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the usefulness of the transtheoretical model (TTM) of exercise behavior change in women with MS over a 1-year period.
- To examine the effect of TTM constructs on MS-related symptoms.
- To investigate the relationship between exercise behavior change patterns and MS symptomology.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study over 1 year involving 86 ambulatory women with MS.
- Participants completed questionnaires on exercise behavior, TTM constructs, quality of life, pain, and fatigue at baseline and 1 year.
- Mixed-design analyses of variance were used to analyze TTM predictions and transitional shift patterns.
Main Results:
- Significant interactions between transitional shift patterns and time supported TTM predictions regarding changes in behavioral/cognitive processes and self-efficacy.
- Significant differences in pain and fatigue were observed between different transitional shift groups, aligning with expectations.
- TTM constructs demonstrated consistency with observed exercise behavior changes over the study period.
Conclusions:
- The transtheoretical model (TTM) shows potential for motivating individuals with MS to increase physical activity.
- Physical activity is confirmed as beneficial for reducing MS-related symptoms.
- Lifestyle physical activity may be as effective as structured exercise for symptom management in MS.
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