Effect of a Tailored Activity Pacing Intervention on Fatigue and Physical Activity Behaviours in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Tailored activity pacing could help manage fatigue and improve physical activity. However, little is known about how to tailor activity pacing for people with multiple sclerosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a tailored activity pacing intervention on fatigue and physical activity behaviours in adults with multiple sclerosis. Twenty-one adults with multiple sclerosis, stratified by age and gender, are randomly allocated to either a tailored pacing or control group. Participants wear an accelerometer for seven days that measures physical activity behaviours, and self-report fatigue at the baseline and four-week follow-up. Physical activity behaviours are assessed by examining activity level (seven-day average activity counts per minute) and activity variability (seven-day average highest activity counts each day divided by activity counts on that day). The intervention improves activity levels (Mean difference = 40.91; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] (3.84-77.96); p = 0.03) and lessens activity variability (Mean difference = -0.63; 95% CI (-1.25-0.02); p = 0.04). No significant effect is found for fatigue (Mean difference = -0.36; 95% CI (-1.02-0.30); p = 0.27). This investigation shows that tailoring activity pacing based on physical activity behaviours and fatigue is effective in improving physical activity levels, without exacerbating fatigue symptoms.

Keywords: accelerometer; activity pacing; energy distribution; multiple sclerosis (MS).

Figure 1

Flow diagram of participants through the intervention.

Figure 2

Changes in fatigue (dashed line) and activity levels; counts per minute (grey bar) between baseline and follow-up over a 7-day period.