321 - Investigating How a Relationship With Exercise Prior to Being Diagnosed With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Impacts The Acceptance and Involvement of Therapeutic Exercise After Diagnosis

Objectives: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to progressive muscular paralysis. Best Practice Guidelines recommend exercise be regularly performed by individuals with ALS to maximize function and quality of life. Although the benefit of physical activity for individuals with ALS is recognized, little is known about the factors that influence exercise participation amongst this population. This paper aims to identify if there is a relationship between one’s involvement in exercise prior to a diagnosis with ALS, and their participation in therapeutic exercise after diagnosis. The secondary objective is to explore the factors that affect compliance with therapeutic exercise.

Design: This study used a qualitative, exploratory, inductive approach based in constructivist grounded theory to gain a better understanding of the relationship between lifelong exercise participation and use of therapeutic exercise practices. A purposive sampling strategy was used and participants were recruited from the Adult Neuromuscular Clinic at Providence Care Hospital. The inclusion criteria included: >18 years old, and having a diagnosis of ALS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore topics relating to prior involvement in exercise, self-identity, and current exercise regimens.

Results: This project builds upon a study conducted in 2022 which assessed the experiences of individuals with ALS participating in physical activity. The 2022 study introduced a variety of barriers to exercise participation, such as safety concerns, resource constraints and physical restrictions. Our project further explored the proposed characteristics, while also expanding on the role of self-identity in the uptake of therapeutic physical activity.

Conclusions: Given the inclusion of physical activity in the ALS Best Practice Guidelines, it is imperative we continue to learn about patient experience so as to better support the uptake of exercise. This study provides important information about factors that influence whether patients with ALS participate in physical activity, and comply with therapeutically prescribed exercise.