Meta-Analysis Gauges Physical Activity in MS Patients

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) averaged 21 fewer minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 25 fewer minutes of light physical activity per day compared with healthy controls, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of objectively measured data published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

“People with MS find it more difficult to engage in physical activity than healthy controls,” wrote a research team from the United Kingdom. “[U]nderstanding the differences between people with MS and controls can help inform changes such as interventions to promote a more active lifestyle. This in turn will help prevent secondary conditions and reduce symptom progression.”

The review and meta-analysis included 1098 adult participants from 21 studies. Among participants, 579 had MS and 519 were healthy controls. Participants’ sedentary time and free-living physical activity over at least 3 days were measured using accelerometers.

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In all categories measured, people with MS differed significantly from healthy controls, according to the study. On average, daily sedentary time averaged 532.13 ± 89.67 minutes for people with MS compared with 506.37 ± 81.55 minutes for controls; daily light physical activity averaged 230.73 ± 67.68 minutes for people with MS compared with 255.11 ± 58.19 minutes for controls; and daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity averaged 35.99 ± 21.59 minutes for people with MS compared with 56.42 ± 27.07 minutes for controls.

Standard mean differences, which accounted for differences in accelerometer wear time, were -0.286 for minutes of daily sedentary time; -0.646 for percent of daily sedentary time; 0.337 for minutes of daily light physical activity; 0.211 for percent of daily light physical activity; 0.801 for minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous activity; 0.914 for percent of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; 0.894 for daily step count; and 0.693 for daily activity count.

“More interventions should be aimed at helping those who struggle to be active without guidance and support due to mobility, [and] emotional or cognitive issues,” researchers advised, “especially with advances in technology.”

References

Macdonald E, Buchan D, Cerexhe L, Renfrew L, Sculthorpe N. Accelerometer measured physical activity and sedentary time in individuals with multiple sclerosis versus age matched controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023;69:104462. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104462