Effects of the Cross-Training in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (CTSM)

Università degli Studi di Sassari

Status: Completed

Conditions: Weakness; Multiple Sclerosis; Fatigue

Treatments: Other: Cross-Training multiple sclerosis; Other: Cross-Training healthy subjects; Other: Standard-training multiple sclerosis

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02010398

Prot.1160/L

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether, in patients with multiple sclerosis presenting with marked asymmetry of strength, training the less-affected limb with a Cross-Training approach may induce a meaningful transfer of strength with neurophysiological, functional and clinical correlates, to the contralateral, more-impaired limb.

Full description

Muscle weakness is a major disability that is responsible for deeply reducing the overall quality of life (QoL) of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Research has shown that strength training (ST) has a significant positive effect on the performance of daily living activities in people with MS, resulting in an increased QoL. Several ST methods are currently employed for reducing strength impairment in MS but no one regimen has been portrayed as superior to others. When strength impairment is prominently lateralized to one limb, training is commonly addressed to the weaker side in order to balance the deficit. However, such ST may not always be applicable to a severely weakened limb that is too compromised to sustain it. For these selected patients we hypothesize that training the less affected limb with a Cross Training (CT) approach may overcome the problem, also avoiding patients' frustration and potential withdrawals from rehabilitation programs.

Aim of this project is to investigate and compare in two groups of selected MS patients, with a marked asymmetry of strength, the effects induced on dynamometric, neurophysiological, functional and clinical outcomes by a CT of the less-impaired leg (CT group) compared to a ST of the more-impaired leg (ST group). In order to make comparisons with a population which is not exposed to the condition MS, a third group composed of healthy subjects will also be included in the study.

The research plan will be articulated in 5 phases (recruitment, baseline assessment, 6 week-intervention phase, post-intervention assessment and follow up at 12 weeks).

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age: 18-65 years
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤6 (Pyramidal functional system ≥3)

Exclusion criteria

• Clinically relevant cognitive disorders;
• Disability caused by other diseases;
• Medication with corticosteroids within three months prior to enrolment;
• Medication with botulinum toxin within six months prior to enrolment;
• Clinically or radiologically documented exacerbation within six months prior to enrolment;
• Variations in disease-modifying drugs (DMD) within three months prior to enrolment;
• Severe ataxia and postural instability (assessed with Berg Balance Scale);
• Depression

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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45 participants in 4 patient groups

Cross-Training healthy subjects

Active Comparator group

Description:

A cohort of healthy subjects (N=15) will undergo a phase of intervention consisting of cross-training of the stronger limb employing an isokinetic contraction regimen at maximal intensity.

Treatment:

Other: Cross-Training healthy subjects

Standard-Training multiple sclerosis

Active Comparator group

Description:

A cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (N=15), presenting with a marked asymmetry in limb strength, will undergo a standard-training of the more-impaired limb employing an isokinetic contraction regimen at maximal intensity.

Treatment:

Other: Standard-training multiple sclerosis

Cross-Training multiple sclerosis

Experimental group

Description:

A cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (N=15), presenting with a marked asymmetry in limb strength, will undergo a cross-training of the less-impaired limb employing an isokinetic contraction regimen at maximal intensity.

Treatment:

Other: Cross-Training multiple sclerosis

Healthy Control

No Intervention group

Description:

A cohort of healthy subjects (N=15) will undergo baseline assessment and a second evaluation after one month of no-intervention