Internet-Delivered Lifestyle Physical Activity Intervention Improves Body Composition in Multiple Sclerosis: Preliminary Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

To examine the efficacy of a physical activity behavioral intervention for improving outcomes of body composition in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design

Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial.

Setting

University research laboratory.

Participants

Ambulatory persons with MS (N=82).

Intervention

A 6-month, internet-delivered physical activity behavioral intervention designed to increase lifestyle physical activity, primarily walking. The behavioral intervention was based on principles of social cognitive theory.

Main Outcome Measures

Whole-body bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and soft tissue composition, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Results

There were no significant differences between conditions posttrial on body composition outcomes using the adjusted critical value (P<.008). There was a significant effect of the intervention on whole-body BMC (P=.04, ω²<.001) and BMD (P=.01, ω²=.003) using the unadjusted critical value (P<.05). The effect of the intervention on percent body fat (P=.09, ω²=.001) and whole-body fat mass (P=.05, ω²=.003) approached significance using unadjusted criteria. There was not a significant effect on whole-body lean soft tissue (P=.28, ω²<.001) or body mass index (P=.86, ω²<.001).

Conclusions

Our results provide preliminary evidence that an internet-delivered lifestyle physical activity intervention might improve bone health and body composition in MS. Such findings are important considering that physical activity is a modifiable behavior with the potential to confer long-term benefits for the prevention and management of fracture risk and comorbidities among those with MS.