The motor habits in people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

AIM To investigate the habits of movement of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), relapsing-remitting. METHODS Were recruited 147 subjects with MS (age 40±11 years, age of disease onset 29±12 years, EDSS 1-3). The patients fill out the IPAQ questionnaire. The question concern these motor activities (MA) areas: 1) Intense MA: for example cycling at a fast rhythm (70-80% of HRmax) or precautionary muscle strength workout in the gym (i.e. 60-70% of MVC), 2) Moderate MA: lift light weights (i.e. to lift up a full bottle of water), housework (i.e. washing up), walking. 3) Skill both in walking and maintaining the seated position. In each area it was measured the perception of fatigue, muscle and joint pain through the visual analogic scale (VAS). RESULTS The MA of the studied sample before and after the diagnosis of MS are the following: 1) The intense MA is decreased from 37% to 22% with a frequency of 2 times a week for about 2 hours. 2) The moderate MA is passed from 63% to 78% with a frequency of about 2 times per week for a duration of about 3 hours. 3) Only 19% carries sport activities such as swimming or cycling with moderate intensity. 4) It showed a positive correlation between EDSS and perceived fatigue (R: P<0.05) which is present in 75% of the sample studied. In 50% of cases there is neuropathic pain. CONCLUSION The data highlight how diagnosis of disease determine a regression in motor activity, probably due to a few information it. Furthermore, the correlation between fatigue and level of EDSS suggests, with the purpose of reducing the abandonment of motor activity, to manage individually the necessary recovery times within the routine exercises and between the conditioning motor sessions.