Staying physically active is important for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but many face challenges meeting recommended activity levels. A team at the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is studying a new digital health tool designed to make it easier.
The tool, called ExerciseRx™, developed by The Sports Institute and UW Computer Science & Engineering Ubicomp Lab, connects a patient’s activity data to their care team. It tracks daily steps and provides personalized fitness goals to help patients gradually increase activity with provider support.
A new paper in JMIR Research Protocols outlines the study design. Researchers aim to learn whether the platform improves daily step count, as well as fatigue, pain, sleep, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, falls, and social participation. They will also gather feedback on program usability. The trial will compare participants who use the app for 12 weeks, while their healthcare team monitors progress through the EHR. The control group will receive usual care, which includes encouragement to increase activity and a handout with physical activity recommendations and resources.
Enrollment for the trial began in March 2024. Results will be analyzed in 2026 and will offer insight into whether digital tools like ExerciseRx can help people with MS stay active and healthy.
The research team includes Dawn M. Ehde, PhD; Sarah B. Simmons, MD, PhD; Kevin N. Alschuler, PhD; Tracy E. Herring, PhD; Andrew T. Humbert, PhD; Susan R. Robles, BS; Otari Ioseliani, MS; Karla Landis, MS; Laurie B. Kavanagh, MPH; Theresa Kehne, and Cindy Y. Lin, MD.