It may be prudent to design interventions aimed at increasing physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially in regard to helping individuals become more efficacious and building larger social networks, as this may serve to forestall advancing mobility impairment, a recent study found. A sample of 319 individuals with MS were assessed on the following: family and friend social support, self-efficacy, and physical and social outcome expectations. Self-reported physical activity, perceived ambulation disability, balance confidence, and fall history were also measured. Researchers found:

• Physical activity was strongly linked to mobility impairment, such that increasing levels of physical activity were associated with less mobility impairment.
• The most important predictors of health-promoting levels of physical activity were self-efficacy and social support, with support from friends being a stronger indicator of social support than support from family.