Physical activity and functional limitations in pediatric multiple sclerosis: Are fatigue and depression confounding...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatric Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) presents unique challenges for adolescents, impacting daily activities.
• Functional limitations are a common concern, affecting quality of life.
• The role of physical activity in mitigating these limitations requires further investigation, particularly concerning confounding factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and functional limitations in pediatric MS.
• To determine if fatigue and depression confound the association between MVPA and functional limitations in this population.

Main Methods:

• Data from 65 pediatric MS cases (ages 16±1.7) were analyzed from three observational studies.
• Self-reported measures of MVPA, functional limitations, fatigue, and depression were collected.
• Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were used to examine associations.

Main Results:

• MVPA showed significant correlations with functional limitations (r=0.45), fatigue (r=-0.28), and depression (r=-0.32).
• Functional limitations were strongly associated with fatigue (r=-0.45) and depressive symptoms (r=-0.53).
• MVPA remained significantly correlated with functional limitations (β=0.27, p=0.04) after controlling for fatigue and depression.

Conclusions:

• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is independently associated with perceived functional limitations in youth with pediatric MS.
• These findings suggest that promoting physical activity may help reduce functional limitations, irrespective of fatigue and depressive symptoms.