NCT04719494

Dynamic Balance Training in Multiple Sclerosis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Marquette University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will test a new technique for improving balance while walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The technique focuses on having people with MS safely practice walking on simulated, uneven terrain that challenges balance and more accurately mimics walking in the community. The goal is to improve balance while walking in order to improve mobility and decrease the risk of falls. Recently, we developed a state-of-the-art treadmill system that allows us to create a challenging walking environment by placing a treadmill onto a motion base. We are able to simulate uneven terrain through movements of the walking surface while maintaining a safe walking environment. We will use this system to conduct tests of balance while walking and to train people to walk on uneven surfaces. Our objective is to evaluate the use of uneven terrain for training gait and balance in people with MS. Participants will undergo a four-week training protocol designed to disrupt and challenge balance while walking. We anticipate that training on uneven terrain will enhance gait stability, improve overall walking function and balance and increase balance confidence compared to training on a stable surface.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Dynamic balance walking training	Participants in the training group will walk on an elevated treadmill that will move side-to-side in a pseudorandom manner, thereby increasing the difficulty to their balance. Participants are asked to walk independently for 30-minutes per session, for 12 days over 4 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-01-01
• Primary completion: 2019-05-31
• Completion: 2020-08-31
• First posted: 2021-01-22
• Last updated: 2021-01-22