Physical activity is one approach that may help manage the symptoms experienced by personswith MS and the burden faced by their care-partners. This thesis examined: i) the efficacy of aphysical activity intervention for increasing physical activity in dyads affected by moderate-to-severe MS; and (ii) the interdependence in physical activity in MS-care-partner dyads. A 12-week, randomized pilot feasibility trial was conducted in five (two intervention; three control)MS-care-partner dyads. Participants self-reported physical activity and wore an accelerometerfor 7-days at baseline and 12-weeks (i.e., follow-up). A large effect of the intervention wasobserved on self-reported physical activity (d= 0.98) and time spent sedentary (d= -1.26). Mostcorrelations in physical activity within dyads were moderate-to-strong at baseline (rs range=0.33-0.72) and over time (rs range= 0.40-0.80). The results from this pilot case study lay thefoundation for larger physical activity interventions in dyads affected by MS

Identifying factors that influence physical activity (PA) among individuals with Down syndrome (DS) is essential for PA promotion. Insight can be gained from guardians and health professionals. The purpose was to compare guardians and health professional perspectives on facilitators and barriers of PA in individuals with DS. Interviews were conducted with 11 guardians (5 mothers, 4 fathers, 2 legal guardians) and 11 professionals (4 PA specialists, 3 physical therapists, 4 occupational therapists). Grounded Theory was applied to data analysis. Barriers and facilitators fit the levels of the Ecological Model of Health Behavior: (a) Intrapersonal (perceived rewards); (b) Interpersonal (interaction); (c) Community (availability of programs); (d) Organizational (school systems); (e) Policy (education). Guardians and professionals agreed on the importance of enjoyment, interaction, and programs to promote PA. Differences were found among organizational and policy levels. PA in persons with DS is influenced by interactions between individual and environmental factors.

There is a need to examine the difference in the relationship between oxygen uptake (VO2) and output from hip- and wrist-worn accelerometers in adults with Down syndrome (DS). The purpose of this study is to identify if that relationship is different between adults with and without DS. Hip- and wrist-worn accelerometer accuracy was also assessed. The sample included 16 adults with DS (10 men; age 31±15 years) and 19 adults without DS (10 men; age 24±6 years). We measured VO2 with a portable spirometer and accelerometer output (Vector Magnitude [VM]) with a hip- and a wrist-worn accelerometer. VM and group were significant predictors of VO2 (p?0.021). BMI became a significant predictor in the second model and DS was no longer significant for both accelerometer models. The Bland-Altman plots indicated nearly zero mean error for both groups. Hip-worn accelerometers showed greater accuracy, and showed less error based on 95% confidence intervals.

Adolescent prevalence of obesity and at-risk WC has continued to rise worldwide. Sleep duration, sleep quality, and physical activity have been hypothesized as contributing factors to this increase. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the sleep–obesity relation in adolescents. METHODS: Using data from the 2015-2016 NHANES(n=454; ages 16-18 years), the effect of sleep duration, sleep quality, and MVPA on BMI and WC by gender was analyzed using appropriate sampling weights. RESULTS: Longer sleep duration was associated with increased BMI (β=0.07; 0.065, p<0.05) and WC (β=0.069; 0.13, p<0.05) among males and females. Poor sleep quality was associated with increased BMI among males and females (β= 0.04; 0.08, p< 0.05). A significant main effect was observed across sleep duration, sleep quality and MVPA via multiple regression for both BMI and WC. CONCLUSIONS: For both males and females, BMI and WC were impacted by excessive sleep, poor sleep quality, and low MVPA, with greater associations among males.

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