Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, People with Chronic Neurological Disease (Multiple Sclerosis) are Trying to Maintain Physical Activity

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurodegenerative disease. This disease can manifest itself in many different neurological symptoms such as (gait and balance impairment, sensory deficits, muscle weakness, spasticity, bladder impairment, fatigue, cognitive impairment etc.). For successful disease management not only pharmacological treatment is important, but also a healthy lifestyle including regular physical activity. However, pandemic restrictions limited access to sport facilities and together with home-office regimen, increased the sedentary behaviour in all population. The pandemic level of physical activity in people with MS in the Czech Republic remains unclear. Therefore, using an online cross-sectional survey we aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA) level in people with MS during Covid-19 pandemic. Two hundred ninety-seven persons with MS filled out  online survey, 83 % women, with a mean age 43.7 years (SD 11.3). Most respondents had mild to moderate disability (74 %). During pandemic year 2020, 23 % persons with MS ceased their PA, 18 % reduced their PA, 25 % continued their PA as before, 11 % increased their PA, and 20 % did not perform any PA in the past and did not do so during the pandemic. Aerobic activity was the main type of performed PA, followed by health exercise and yoga. Total of 37 % people reported that their fitness level had decreased during the pandemic. Key words: Covid-19, physical activity, exercise, multiple sclerosis