An exploratory study of physical activity and perceived barriers to exercise in ambulant people with neuromuscular disease compared with unaffected controls.

OBJECTIVE

To determine activity patterns and perceived barriers to exercise in ambulant people with neuromuscular disease compared with ambulatory controls.

DESIGN

Prospective controlled parallel group design.

SETTING

Outpatient clinic and community.

SUBJECTS

Thirteen ambulatory people with neuromuscular disease and 18 ambulatory controls.

MAIN MEASURES

Heart rates were recorded during sedentary activity and treadmill walking at various speeds to indicate activity threshold (flex heart rate), followed by ambulatory heart rate monitoring over two weekdays and one weekend day. The EPIC-Norfolk Physical Activity Questionnaire-2 and Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey were completed.

RESULTS

Participants with neuromuscular disease were less active than controls as estimated by both the EPIC-Norfolk Physical Activity Questionnaire-2, P<0.004, and the flex heart rate method, P<0.05. The number of perceived barriers was greater in the neuromuscular group, a mean of 7 (SD 4.2) barriers, compared with mean 3 (SD 2.1) barriers for controls, P<0.05. Specific barriers differed, with the barriers of 'pain', 'lack of energy' and 'exercise is too difficult' showing the greatest discrepancy and being higher in the neuromuscular disease group.

CONCLUSION

Physical activity, as determined by two different methods, was less and barriers to exercise greater in people with neuromuscular disease compared with healthy controls. Specific barriers were different in the two groups. This information could assist in the design of achievable and effective exercise programmes for people with neuromuscular disease.