Study Links Walking Ability and Daily Steps With Quality of Life in MS

People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who performed better on walking tests and accumulated more daily steps reported a higher quality of life, according to a study from the University of Eastern Finland. The findings were published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

The research examined how perceived quality of life related to physical activity, walking performance, disability and broader functional capacity. The study included people with RRMS as well as healthy controls, who were used for comparison in the assessments.

Researchers measured daily movement objectively with an accelerometer rather than relying solely on participants’ estimates. Quality of life was assessed using two established questionnaires, the 15D and RAND-36. Disability was evaluated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale and the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite. Participants also completed physical-performance tests, including a six-minute walk test.

People with RRMS reported significantly lower quality of life than the healthy controls. Within the MS group, greater disability was strongly associated with poorer quality-of-life measures. Better walking performance and a higher daily step count were both linked to better reported well-being.

The relationship did not extend to the intensity of physical activity. The researchers reported that how intensely participants were active was not associated with quality of life, distinguishing the finding from a general claim that more vigorous exercise produces better outcomes.

The results suggest that walking performance and basic daily activity levels may provide useful information about how people with RRMS are functioning and experiencing their health. The study also indicates that simple walking assessments could offer insight into well-being alongside more formal disability and quality-of-life measures.

Marko Luostarinen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, said the findings were consistent with earlier research and could help health care professionals encourage people with MS to increase daily activity levels. That statement describes a potential application of the results, not evidence that increasing activity would necessarily improve quality of life for every person with MS.

Because the source reports associations rather than a controlled intervention, the study does not establish that walking more or improving walking performance causes better quality of life. It also does not show that activity intensity has no health value generally; only that intensity was not associated with quality of life in the measures examined. The paper, titled “Walking performance is associated with quality of life and disability in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis,” was published in 2026.