Reducing Sedentary Behaviour: A Novel Opportunity for Managing Comorbidity in MS?

Activity recommendations for the general population and those with multiple sclerosis (MS) focus on the promotion of activity that has a moderate intensity - in other words, activity intense enough to breathe heavily and sweat. Most adults do not achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Even fewer persons with MS meet the recommendations. Those with MS often have problems with walking and fatigue, thus it is not difficult to understand that moderate intensity activity is challenging. Our study will test the feasibility of a new approach focusing on activity over the whole day - promoting light activity such as standing or walking around the house while reducing prolonged sitting (sedentary behaviour). This approach is supported by research evidence showing that too much sedentary time, especially prolonged bouts of sitting, is associated with health risk factors such as obesity and cholesterol level. Recent work with persons with MS confirms that prolonged sitting is a problem for this population and emphasises the potential importance of this approach. This study tests the feasibility of an internet-based intervention designed to decrease sedentary behaviour and to increase upright time in people with MS.