Trial results for a study examining a wheelchair exercise-training intervention for persons with Multiple Sclerosis were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-01-30, confirming that the study successfully recruited its target of 24 participants.
Background
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often debilitating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Many individuals with MS experience progressive disability, leading to mobility challenges and, for some, reliance on wheelchairs. Regular physical activity is crucial for managing MS symptoms, maintaining physical function, and improving quality of life. However, accessible and effective exercise programs tailored for wheelchair users with MS are often limited. This study aimed to address this gap by evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a novel wheelchair exercise training program, which is a critical first step before larger efficacy trials can be conducted.
Trial design
This completed study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 24 participants with Multiple Sclerosis. The trial's primary objective was to examine the feasibility and initial efficacy of undertaking and delivering a novel, stakeholder-informed exercise training program for wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis. It specifically aimed to answer questions regarding study feasibility (participant recruitment, retention, and safety) and acceptability (participant satisfaction and perceptions). Participants were randomized into two groups: an Exercise Training Intervention group and a Wellness Control group.
Key results
The trial results focused on the feasibility and acceptability outcomes:
- Study Feasibility: Number of Participants Recruited: The study successfully recruited 24 Participants in total.
- Study Feasibility: Number of Participants Retained: 10 Participants were retained in the Exercise Training Intervention group, and 10 Participants were retained in the Wellness Control group.
- Study Feasibility: Number of Participants With Study-Related Adverse Events: 1 Participant in the Exercise Training Intervention group experienced a study-related adverse event, while 0 Participants in the Wellness Control group experienced any.
- Acceptability: Number of Participants With Positive Perceptions During Semi-Structured Interview: 9 Participants in the Exercise Training Intervention group and 8 Participants in the Wellness Control group reported positive perceptions.
- Acceptability as Measured by the Post-intervention Acceptability Survey: The Exercise Training Intervention group had a mean score of 4.5 with a Standard Deviation of 0.97 on a scale, while the Wellness Control group had a mean score of 4.56 with a Standard Deviation of 0.53 on a scale.
What this means
The posted results indicate that a wheelchair exercise-training intervention for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis is feasible and acceptable. The successful recruitment of 24 participants, along with high retention rates (10 participants in each group), suggests that such a study design can be effectively implemented. The low incidence of adverse events (1 participant in the intervention group and 0 participants in the control group) points to the safety of the program. Furthermore, positive participant perceptions and favorable survey scores across both groups highlight the intervention's acceptability. These findings support the progression to larger-scale trials to further assess the efficacy of wheelchair exercise training in improving outcomes for people with MS.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05888727, titled "Examining a Wheelchair Exercise-training Intervention for Persons With Multiple Sclerosis", were posted on 2026-01-30 on clinicaltrials.gov.