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Pedro L1, Pais Ribeiro J2, Páscoa Pinheiro J3
1Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Rehabilitation - Physiotherapy, Lisbon, Portugal, 2Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação - Universidade do Porto, Psicologia, Porto, Portugal, 3Faculdade Medicina - Universidade Coimbra, Medicina, Coimbra, Portugal
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease that most often affects young adults. This disease has no cure and its progression depends on the severity of the processes of inflammation of the neurons and demyelination. The most common symptoms are: fatigue, muscle weakness, sensitivity changes, ataxia, changes in balance, walking difficulties, memory difficulties, cognitive changes and difficulties in solving problems.
Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in MS patients, statistically about 75% to 90% of these individuals present fatigue syndrome with significant negative impact on daily work, family life, social relationships and activities. Fatigue can occur through symptoms such as: tiredness, lack of energy, increased sleepiness, depression, increased pain and motor changes.
There is evidence of association between fatigue and depression in MS patients, causing, decreased physical activity, decreased cognitive performance and decreased motivation
Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the importance of a program to promotion of physical activity in the control of fatigue and Psychological well-being (PWB) in patients with MS.
Methods: This is a quasi experimental study. We carried out the first assessment on the first session of the implementation of program and a second evaluation at the end of the program. The intervention group consists of 27 patients with diagnosis of MS for more than one year and with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score under seven. The sample was divided in three groups, each group including eight people, collected sequentially in three Portuguese hospitals (Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto) with the collaboration of their personal physician. The sessions were held once a week for 90 minutes, over a period of 7 weeks. We used the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and sub scale psychological well-being (PWB) belonging to the Mental Health Inventory. Each session of the intervention program consisted, in a group movement class (integral exercises: aerobic, balance, coordination and fall prevention), then a discussion of strategies based on movement was developed to minimize the perception of fatigue in daily life.
Results: In the results we can verify that in the characteristics of the sample: The average age of 44 years. 58.3% were women, 37.5% were currently married, 67% were retired and the average level of schooling was 12.5 years.
Regarding the correlation between the FSS and BWB, before the program was r = 0.21, (p 0.05), and after the program was r = 0.48, (p 0.01), changing from low to moderate correlation, meaning less fatigue and greater psychological well-being at the end of the intervention program.
Conclusion(s): We conclude that the physical activity program integrating a dynamized group exercise plan and stimulating the discussion of movement strategies based on minimizing the perception of fatigue in daily life in patients with MS improves fatigue and psychological well-being.
Implications: The development of a physiotherapy program, intended to promote physical activity in the management of fatigue and psychological well-being in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Keywords: Physical Activity, fatigue, psychological well-being
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in MS patients, statistically about 75% to 90% of these individuals present fatigue syndrome with significant negative impact on daily work, family life, social relationships and activities. Fatigue can occur through symptoms such as: tiredness, lack of energy, increased sleepiness, depression, increased pain and motor changes.
There is evidence of association between fatigue and depression in MS patients, causing, decreased physical activity, decreased cognitive performance and decreased motivation
Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the importance of a program to promotion of physical activity in the control of fatigue and Psychological well-being (PWB) in patients with MS.
Methods: This is a quasi experimental study. We carried out the first assessment on the first session of the implementation of program and a second evaluation at the end of the program. The intervention group consists of 27 patients with diagnosis of MS for more than one year and with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score under seven. The sample was divided in three groups, each group including eight people, collected sequentially in three Portuguese hospitals (Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto) with the collaboration of their personal physician. The sessions were held once a week for 90 minutes, over a period of 7 weeks. We used the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and sub scale psychological well-being (PWB) belonging to the Mental Health Inventory. Each session of the intervention program consisted, in a group movement class (integral exercises: aerobic, balance, coordination and fall prevention), then a discussion of strategies based on movement was developed to minimize the perception of fatigue in daily life.
Results: In the results we can verify that in the characteristics of the sample: The average age of 44 years. 58.3% were women, 37.5% were currently married, 67% were retired and the average level of schooling was 12.5 years.
Regarding the correlation between the FSS and BWB, before the program was r = 0.21, (p 0.05), and after the program was r = 0.48, (p 0.01), changing from low to moderate correlation, meaning less fatigue and greater psychological well-being at the end of the intervention program.
Conclusion(s): We conclude that the physical activity program integrating a dynamized group exercise plan and stimulating the discussion of movement strategies based on minimizing the perception of fatigue in daily life in patients with MS improves fatigue and psychological well-being.
Implications: The development of a physiotherapy program, intended to promote physical activity in the management of fatigue and psychological well-being in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Keywords: Physical Activity, fatigue, psychological well-being
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Topic: Neurology; Mental health; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: multiple sclerosis portuguese association
Ethics committee: multiple sclerosis portuguese association
Ethics number: no number
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
