Investigating Compliance With a Home Exercise Program in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the status of receiving home exercise programs and adherence among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), providing insights for clinical practice. Methods: Individuals diagnosed with MS, aged 18 and over, literate, and reached through the social media platforms of the MS Society of Türkiye, were included in the study. Individuals who did not fully complete the questions asked and/ or gave answers irrelevant to the topic, who reported comorbidities that may prevent participation in exercise along with MS, and those not meeting the specified age criteria were excluded from the study. Data were collected through an online questionnaire assessing MS patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and their engagement and adherence to home exercise programs. Results: A total of 217 people (n = 36) male, (n = 181) female, participated in the study. While the rate of having a prescribed home exercise program among all participants was 12.90%, this rate was 8.33% for men and 13.81% for women. When the compliance of the participants with home exercise programs was examined, all men stated they sometimes applied these programs. This rate was found to be 52% for women. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that a considerable proportion of individuals with MS did not engage with the prescribed home exercise programme. Furthermore, the adherence rates and frequency of exercise updates were found to be inadequate. Since the MS population is increasing steadily in Türkiye, it is vital to facilitate access to effective exercises for people with MS and to ensure lifelong compliance with these exercises. © 2025 AVES. All rights reserved.