Task Specific Training for Advanced Multiple Sclerosis

Hunter College of City University of New York

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Other: Task specific physical therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06506929

2024-0303

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to find effective physical therapy treatments for individuals who have severe multiple sclerosis. Physical therapy treatments for mild-to-moderate multiple sclerosis exists, however, very limited research has been done for physical therapy for severe multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study 10 participants diagnosed with severe MS will engage in 1-hour physical therapy sessions twice a week for 6 weeks to address limitations in standing, balancing, and bed mobility.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of task-specific physical therapy for persons with severe MS. The hypothesize for this study that a task-specific physical therapy program is safe, feasible, and effective in persons with severe MS.

Multiple studies have confirmed the effectiveness of task specific physical therapy for persons with MS. However,MS is a progressive disease which can lead to mild to severe disability and the studies examining the effectiveness of task specific therapy have only been conducted on persons with mild to moderate MS impairments. The small amount of research on physical therapy for persons with severe disability due to MS has only looked at the use of generalized conditioning exercises(1). Task specific therapy has been shown to be effective in persons with severe disability in non-MS neurologic disorders.(2) The effectiveness of task specific exercises on persons with severe MS not been studied. Based on the previous scientific evidence of the effectiveness of task-specific physical therapy in MS subjects with mild-to-moderate disability, there is strong scientific justification for conducting a trial of task specific therapy on persons with severe disability due to MS.

The results of this study will be presented at various conferences attended by physical therapists as well as other health care practitioners who specialize in MS care, including the American Physical Therapy Combined Sections Meeting, as well as the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting. Additionally, upon completion of the study, we will submit a manuscript to the appropriate peer review journal.

Enrollment: 15 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. definitive diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
2. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of 7.0-8.0
3. Ability to read, understand , and sign an informed consent -

Exclusion criteria

1. evidence of MS exacerbation in the 4 weeks prior to starting the study
2. any orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, or non-MS neurologic symptoms that will interfere with their ability to participate in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 1 patient group

Task specific Physical Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will received task specific physical therapy for 1 hour, twice a week for 6 weeks

Treatment:

Other: Task specific physical therapy