Home-based Balance Training in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis

University of Vermont

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, MS

Treatments: Behavioral: Home-based balance training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06412003

STUDY00002956

Details and patient eligibility

About

This single-group pretest-posttest study aims to examine the feasibility domains in response to 12 weeks of home-based balance training in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The feasibility domains include 1) process (e.g., recruitment, attendance, adherence rate), 2) resources (e.g., total monetary costs), 3) management (e.g., assessment time), and 4) scientific outcomes (adverse events, intervention acceptability, satisfaction, treatment effects). Moreover, this study aims to evaluate physical function (i.e., balance, mobility, dual-task ability), cognitive function (i.e., cognitive processing speed, verbal memory, visuospatial memory), real-world ambulation (i.e., gait speed, gait variability, gait quantity), and self-report questionnaires (fatigue, fear of falling, walking disability, dual-tasking difficulty). Our proposed intervention is expected to deliver a feasible and accessible exercise modality for balance and cognitive improvement in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Full description

Acknowledging the complex system of balance, this home-based balance training aims to address comprehensive balance control components, such as static balance, limit of stability, postural response (reactive balance), anticipatory postural transition, weight shifting, stability in gait, and stepping exercise. These balance components will be encompassed in every session to train balance function comprehensively. Exercise program will be progressed by varying sensory integrations, base of support, and simultaneous motor-cognitive tasks (i.e., dual-task).

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Physician-diagnosed MS
• Ages 18-75 years
• Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale score between 2-5 (i.e., gait disability-late cane)
• Able to participate in exercise (i.e., one or fewer affirmatives on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q+))
• Have a webcam on a device at least the size of a full tablet (i.e., larger than a smartphone)
• Have an exercise supporter (e.g., spouse or family member) who is willing to participate in the intervention
• Not currently participating in any balance-related exercise program

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitively unable to read and sign informed consent form and follow verbally delivered screening assessment
• Unable to communicate in English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

30 participants in 1 patient group

Home-based balance training group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will perform the home-based balance training program for 30-40 minutes per session, 3 days per week for 12 weeks not including the two weeks of education and familiarization.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Home-based balance training