The Meaning of Physical Activity, Exercise and Sedentary Behavior in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: There are low levels of physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) despite the growing evidence suggesting that the manifestations of MS can be managed through participation in physical activity. This has prompted efforts towards the development of guidelines for promotion of physical activity and exercise and reduction of sedentary behavior in MS. These efforts may be ineffective if patients lack an accurate understanding of the terms physical activity, exercise and sedentary behavior. Further, there is some evidence of inconsistency and ambiguity in the presentation and discussion of physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behavior in the research literature.

Objectives: This study examined the understandings of physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behavior in persons with MS in an effort to establish a consensus of the distinct differences between the three behaviors and to better inform communication about behavior change between persons with MS and both healthcare providers and researchers.

Methods: A basic qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews was adopted. Fifty-three persons with MS took part in semi-structured interviews regarding their understanding of physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behaviors. Coding and thematic analysis was performed by three researchers.

Results: We observed that participants indicated a general understanding of physical activity, exercise and sedentary behavior. However, there was some evidence of definitional ambiguity that was observed among physical activity, exercise and even sedentary behavior.

Conclusions: The results highlight a need for establishing consistency of disseminated strategies and guidelines to better inform communication about behavior change in persons with MS and both healthcare providers and researchers.