Experiences of Integrating and Sustaining Physical Activity in Life with Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Ischaemic Heart Disease: a scoping review

Background: The effects of physical activity on overall health are well established for chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and ischaemic heart disease. However, sustaining physical activity in everyday life with illness caused by disease is difficult. There seems to be a gap between physical activity interventions and everyday life. Lifeworld research might help close this gap, but to our knowledge there exists no synthesis on peoples’ experiences with integrating and sustaining physical activity. Aim: To explore the available evidence on experiences with integrating and sustaining physical activity in a lived life with Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Ischaemic heart disease. Methods: Guided by the SPIDER model and in accordance with PRISMA for Scoping reviews, we conducted a systematic search in Cinahl, Embase, Medline and PsychInfo in Dec.2022 followed by a tailored screening and inclusion process. Results: 43 papers were included. A thematic analysis found that people with Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or Ischaemic heart disease find integrating physical activity in everyday meaningful on several levels. Physical activity can facilitate meaningful movement with outcomes of physical, psychosocial and existential importance. In addition, our review finds that the self, the others and the outside influence physical activity behavior. People are more likely to integrate and sustain physical activity if they have access to suitable activities, feel acknowledged, supported and believe that physical activity has a meaningful purpose reflecting their sense of self. Conclusion: The research literature presents a meaning to physical activity that extends the idea of physical fitness to one of existential movement and personal growth. We suggest that future studies incorporate this redefined idea of physical activity as a meaningful movement and investigate how nursing interventions can support integration of meaningful movement in everyday life with illness caused by disease.