The SitLess With MS Program: Intervention Feasibility and Change in Sedentary Behavior.
Patricia J Manns, Golnoush Mehrabani, Sarah Norton and 2 others
PMID 33543106WHAT IT FOUND
A 15-week telerehabilitation program helped people with MS reduce daily sitting time by about 48 minutes.
Participants found it acceptable and feasible, with no increase in fatigue, though the study lacked a control group to confirm the intervention caused the change.
Key findings
01Total sedentary time decreased significantly from pre- to postintervention.
02The number of long sedentary bouts (greater than 30 minutes) decreased significantly from pre- to postintervention.
03Attrition was 12%, meeting the progression criterion of 20% or lower.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study had no control group, so it is impossible to determine if the changes in sedentary behavior were due to the intervention or other factors like regression to the mean. The sample was small (41 participants) and primarily women (90%), limiting generalizability. Falls were self-reported weekly and not verified against medical records or fall history, making it difficult to fully rule out intervention-related falls. Some participants found the Fitbit device challenging to use, particularly those with cognitive difficulties, which may have affected self-monitoring fidelity. The inclusion criteria for physical inactivity were based on leisure-time activity, so some participants may have already been active during work or daily tasks, potentially limiting the room for improvement.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the University of Alberta.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the reduction in sitting time was caused by the intervention alone, as the study lacked a control group and included only 41 participants. The effect sizes were small, and the change in fatigue was not clinically meaningful, so this should not be viewed as a proven treatment for fatigue or a definitive efficacy result.