Author(s): LEARMONTH, Y., KAUR, I., BAYNTON, S., WHITE-KIELLY, A., WALL, B., PAUL, L., FAIRCHILD, T. , Institution: MURDOCH UNIVERSITY, Country: AUSTRALIA, Abstract-ID: 544

INTRODUCTION:
Many people with MS do not meet the recommended exercise guidelines to elicit health benefits. Programmes combining exercise prescription and behaviour change coaching lead to optimal outcomes. This study aimed to determine the feasibility, safety and participant evaluation of an exercise intervention, based on recent exercise guidelines and principles of behaviour change, delivered online to persons with MS.
METHODS:
Seventy-two participants (age: 43.3 ± 13.3 years; mean ± SD) with mild to moderate MS were stratified according to previous exercise behaviour, and block-randomised into one of three groups: Control (CON; n=24), General Exerciser, (GE; n=24), and Advanced Exercisers, (AE; n=24). GE and AE received a four-month online-supervised exercise program including aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility training based on behaviour change theory. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, four months, five months and eleven month. Process (e.g., recruitment), resources (e.g., monetary cost), management (e.g., staff time), and scientific (i.e., safety, outcomes, and participant evaluation) feasibility were assessed.
RESULTS:
Of 198 potential participants, 143 met the eligibility criteria (72%) and 72 participants were randomised. Fifty-three participants completed the intervention (74% immediate retention), and 44 participants were retained at the six-month follow-up (61%). Personnel time was 369 hours, and the total per participant cost for the study is AUD $1036.20, including personnel costs. Adherence rate was 60% (GE), and 83% (AE) and self-reported online compliance was 73% (GE) and 38% (AE) of the prescribed exercise sessions. When considering safety (e.g., number of participants experiencing a change in MS symptoms) there were no differences in safety outcomes when comparing GE (n=9), AE (n=10) and control (n=10) participants.
CONCLUSION:
We conclude that it is feasible, safe, and efficacious to deliver a remote exercise program with updated exercise guidelines and embedded with behaviour intervention to persons with mild-to-moderate MS. Future research should focus on determining the feasibility and acceptability of exercise prescription combined with behaviour changes to meet the recent guidelines at a wider scale across other MS populations, and to consider the feasibility of similar exercise programme delivery across neurological populations.