Physical activity and peak oxygen consumption are associated with walking in multiple sclerosis

•Walking performance defined using timed 25-foot walk and 6-minute walk tests.•Higher physical activity was associated with walking performance.•Higher peak oxygen consumption was associated with walking performance.•Together only physical activity was an independent contributor to walking performance. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with a prevalence of nearly 1 million adults in the United States. MS results in declines in physical activity and peak oxygen consumption that might be independently associated with declines in walking performance. Therefore our purpose was to evaluate the association between physical activity and peak oxygen consumption with walking performance in individuals with MS. Fifty individuals with MS between the ages of 18–70 yrs. (Female: 38; 46 ± 12 yrs.; BMI: 28.5 ± 6.4; EDSS: 3.3 [IQR: 2.5–4]) performed a maximal incremental cycle test to assess peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), and wore an accelerometer for one week to measure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Subjects further completed a timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW) and 6-minute walk (6MW) to measure walking performance. MVPA and VO2peak were correlated with 6MW and T25FW (p