Functional Balance Intervention in Multiple Sclerosis

Part of paid clinical trials in Chicago, Illinois.

Sponsor
University of Illinois at Chicago
Study ID
NCT06341023
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 90 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Functional Balance Intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in the intervention group will undergo a multi-component FBI exercise program, both in a lab setting (Study 1) and at home (Study 2), for 2 days/week over 4 months. This evidence-based protocol, previously piloted with chronic stroke patients, older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and pre-frail older adults, focuses on improving physical (endurance, strength, balance, and gait) and cognitive function (processing speed, attention, and memory). The program consists of functional agility, functional strength, dual-task, and vestibular exercises, with each 1-hour session including 10 minutes dedicated to each component. The exercise order will be randomized for each session, preceded by a warm-up with gentle self-stretching exercises.
  • Stretching — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in the control group will undergo a 4-month lab-based stretching program, with the same frequency and session length as the intervention group (1 hour/session for 2 days/week). The stretching regimen will include progressive stretches targeting upper and lower-limb muscles, core, and back muscles, followed by a 10-minute cool-down comprising relaxation and breathing exercises. These stretches are designed to improve performance in daily living activities. In Study 2, stretching participants will receive a detailed printed exercise manual for home-based training, ensuring consistency with the lab-based program. No additional equipment, such as computers or tablets, is required for the home stretching program.

Study Details

This project involves two sub-parts: Study 1: Effect of lab-based Functional Balance Intervention (FBI) for physical and cognitive symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Study 2: Feasibility of home-based FBI for physical and cognitive symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Each study involves a 2-arm, Phase-1, randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of FBI on physical, cognitive function, and daily living among people with MS (PwMS). Study 1 is conducted in a lab setting, while Study 2 is conducted at home with additional safety measures. A total of 150 people with multiple sclerosis will be recruited and telephone screened, with an expected enrollment of 120 (60 per phase). After in-person screening, 96 eligible participants (48 per phase) will undergo pre-training assessment and randomization into FBI or Stretching groups. Training sessions will occur twice a week for four months. Anticipating a 15-17% attrition rate, the target sample size is 80 (40 per phase) for completion of the study. Post-training assessments will be conducted after four months to evaluate FBI's impact on physical and cognitive functions. This evidence-based protocol, previously successful with neurological and older adult populations, intends to provide a low-cost, safe, and effective intervention for PwMS in clinical and community settings, including rural areas.

Key Dates

Start date
Jan 21, 2025
Status verified
Mar 2025
Primary completion
Jan 9, 2026
Completion
Jan 9, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Lab-based FBI
    Participants in the lab-based functional balance intervention (FBI) group will receive 4 months of exercise training in the lab (2 times per week for 16 weeks, total 32 sessions). The exercise training will consist of multiple components including functional agility, functional strength, dual-tasking and vestibular exercises.
  • Active Comparator: Lab-based Stretching
    Participants in the lab-based stretching group will receive 4 months of stretching in the lab (2 times per week for 16 weeks, total 32 sessions).The stretching program will include progressive stretches for upper and lower-limb muscles, core and back muscles followed by a cool-down of 10 mins including relaxation and breathing exercises. Stretching exercises will include single and multi-joint stretches designed to target improvements in performance of daily living activities.
  • Experimental: Home-based FBI
    Participants in the home-based functional balance intervention (FBI) group will be asked to complete 4 months of exercise training at home (2 times per week for 16 weeks, total 32 sessions). The exercise training will consist of multiple components including functional agility, functional strength, dual-tasking and vestibular exercises.
  • Active Comparator: Home-Based Stretching
    Participants in the home-based stretching group will be asked to complete 4 months of stretching at home (2 times per week for 16 weeks, total 32 sessions).The stretching program will include progressive stretches for upper and lower-limb muscles, core and back muscles followed by a cool-down of 10 mins including relaxation and breathing exercises. Stretching exercises will include single and multi-joint stretches designed to target improvements in performance of daily living activities.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in physical function [ Time Frame: Week 3 (Pre-training Assessment), Week 21 (Post-training assessment) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinois60612
Tanvi Bhatt, PhD
[email protected]
3123554443
Rudri Purohit, MS
[email protected]
3128773640

Find similar trials in Chicago, IL

By condition
Multiple sclerosis
By specialty
NeurologyBrain disordersAutoimmune disease
By research site
University of Illinois at Chicago· Chicago, IL

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