Video Game-based Therapy for Arm Weakness In Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Status: Completed

Conditions: Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis; Hemiparesis

Treatments: Behavioral: Gaming CI Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03094364

60052127

Details and patient eligibility

About

Participants will receive intensive therapy through a video game in their own homes for 1 month. The game is operated by movements of the body (no controller needed) and acts like a virtual therapist. Participants will agree to play the game for 30 hours. They will also receive 4 home visits from a therapist designed to increase use of their arm for daily activities that are important to them. Participants will also receive a smart watch that will measure use of their weaker arm and alert them when their arm is not participating in activities. Arm strength and function will be measured before and after the therapy program.

Full description

Randomized waitlist control trial. One group will receive treatment immediately (50%) and the other group will receive treatment following a three-week delay (50%). Group 1 will be assessed by physical/occupational therapists and rehabilitation psychologists (blinded to treatment phase) before and after the virtual gaming treatment. Group 2 will receive two baseline assessments (baseline followed by three weeks of usual and customary care and then another baseline before starting the gaming treatment), and again after three weeks of virtual gaming treatment.

Enrollment: 31 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who have progressive multiple sclerosis resulting in upper extremity motor impairment.
• Have the ability to comprehend and participate in basic elements of the therapy.
• Have substantial non-use in the more affected upper extremity.

Exclusion criteria

• Are currently participating in other experimental trials.
• Are currently participating in additional upper extremity therapy.
• Experienced relapse within the past 6 months.
• Too frail to undergo intensive rehabilitation,
• Those with serious, uncontrolled medical problems.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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31 participants in 2 patient groups

Immediate Treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive an in-home consultation with an occupational/physical therapist in which they are educated about the intervention, the system is set up, and they are guided through use of the system. After initial contact, therapist support will be available via telephone to address specific difficulties with operating the system, as well as three additional home visits throughout the 3 week intervention. The rehabilitation program requires use of the rehabilitation gaming system for 1.5 hours daily for 21 consecutive days (equivalent dosage to standard CI therapy), limb activation device worn for 90% of waking hours, and completion of the automated transfer package to facilitate real-world arm use (e.g., problem-solving modules, daily monitoring of arm use). After completing the intervention, the patient will receive additional consultation with the therapist to formulate goals for follow-up. Follow-up assessments will be conducted to assess long-term retention of motor gains.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Gaming CI Therapy

Delayed Treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive an in-home consultation with an occupational/physical therapist in which they are educated about the intervention, the system is set up, and they are guided through use of the system. After initial contact, therapist support will be available via telephone to address specific difficulties with operating the system, as well as three additional home visits throughout the 3 week intervention. The rehabilitation program requires use of the rehabilitation gaming system for 1.5 hours daily for 21 consecutive days (equivalent dosage to standard CI therapy), limb activation device worn for 90% of waking hours, and completion of the automated transfer package to facilitate real-world arm use (e.g., problem-solving modules, daily monitoring of arm use). After completing the intervention, the patient will receive additional consultation with the therapist to formulate goals for follow-up. Follow-up assessments will be conducted to assess long-term retention of motor gains.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Gaming CI Therapy