Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a remotely-delivered exercise training intervention for English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos with multiple sclerosis: Results from the FERLA MS study

Background There is limited evidence on the feasibility of remotely delivered exercise interventions for English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos with MS. Objectives To evaluate the feasibility and exploratory efficacy of a remotely-delivered, home-based exercise program for English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos with MS and to explore associations among feasibility metrics, outcomes, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Results Of 340 individuals contacted, 112 were eligible (33%), 33 enrolled (9.7%), 30 randomized, and 26 completed (87% retention). Adherence averaged 81% (exercise) and 89% (control). No serious adverse events occurred. Exploratory within-group improvements were observed in the exercise group for physical activity ( p = 0.03, d = 0.66). Mobility improved by 10.1 points on the MS Walking Scale–12, exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. Exploratory analyses indicated that higher education correlated with greater program compliance ( ρ =0.70, p = 0.005) and lower anxiety ( ρ =-0.69, p = 0.006). Conclusions Our results support the feasibility, safety, and preliminary benefits of remotely-delivered, home-based exercise training for improvements in physical activity and mobility for English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos with MS. Exploratory results warrant evaluation in larger, adequately powered trials. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05998616).