Internet-Delivered Lifestyle Physical Activity Intervention Improves Body Composition in Multiple Sclerosis: Preliminary Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Objective To examine the efficacy of a physical activity behavioral intervention for improving outcomes of body composition in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial. Setting University research laboratory. Participants Ambulatory persons with MS (N=82). Intervention A 6-month, internet-delivered physical activity behavioral intervention designed to increase lifestyle physical activity, primarily walking. The behavioral intervention was based on principles of social cognitive theory. Main Outcome Measures Whole-body bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and soft tissue composition, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results There were no significant differences between conditions posttrial on body composition outcomes using the adjusted critical value ( P