Isokinetic Exercises in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Other: exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03779724

5070

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators evaluated the effects of isokinetic muscle strengthening exercises of the quadriceps and hamstring on muscle strength, joint position sense, pain, kinesiophobia and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Full description

Objective: To evaluate the effects of isokinetic exercises on muscle strength, knee joint position sense, pain, kinesiophobia, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Outpatient clinic. Participants: Fifty patients with multiple sclerosis. Interventions: Fifty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to an isokinetic exercise (n:25) or home exercise programme (n:25). Sequentially numbered opaque envelopes were used for randomization.

Outcome measures: The outcome measures were the peak torque/body mass index of quadriceps and hamstring muscles at 60°/s and 180°/s velocities, the hamstring/quadriceps ratios at the same velocities, absolute angular errors of the 15°, 45°, and 60° and the mean absolute angular error of joint position sense of the less and more affected knees, and the scores of Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54, Visual Analogue Scale, and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• definite relapsing remitting MS and secondary progressive MS diagnosis
• mild and moderate MS determined by Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores below 6.5
• a disease duration of more than one year.

Exclusion criteria

• having an acute exacerbation within the last three months
• intravenous pulse steroid therapy in the last four weeks
• grade 3-4 spasticity according to the Modified Ashworth Scale
• severe vision impairment
• severe fatigue and depression
• past knee surgery
• other neurologic diseases
• systemic diseases
• pregnancy
• having received an exercise program within the last four weeks.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

isokinetic exercise

Experimental group

Description:

The isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Multijoint Pro 3) was used for isokinetic exercises. The isokinetic exercise program was implemented over eight weeks, twice a week on non-consecutive days under the supervision of a doctor. The number of repetitions undertaken by the patients over the program were as follows: first week 5 at 60°/s and 10 at 180°/s, second week 10 at 60°/s and 15 at 180°/s, third week 15 at 60°/s and 20 at 180°/s, fourth week 20 at 60°/s and 30 at 180°/s, and in the last four weeks 20 at 60°/s and 40 at 180°/s angular velocities. Each block of 10 repetitions were performed as a set.

Treatment:

Other: exercises

home exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

The patients undertook lower extremity strengthening and balance exercises three times a week for eight weeks without supervision. They started with three repetitions, which was gradually increased to 10-15. The patients were called two times a week to inquire about exercise continuity and encouraged to undertake the recommended exercises.

Treatment:

Other: exercises