NCT06412003

Home-based Balance Training in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis

Home-based Balance Training With Family Member Support in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: A Feasibility Single-group Pretest-posttest Design

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Vermont · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed 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).

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Multiple Sclerosis, MS

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Home-based balance training	This is a family member supported home-based balance training program designed for community-dwelling people with MS to improve balance and walking abilities as well as cognitive functions. The intervention program aims to have participants with MS reach high-intensity balance tasks during the program. A bi-weekly two-on-one, semi-structured, video-chat session with participants and their exercise supporter and research team will be conducted using videoconferencing techniques (e.g., Zoom, Skype, or Facetime).

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-01
• Primary completion: 2025-03-31
• Completion: 2025-05-31
• First posted: 2024-05-14
• Last updated: 2024-05-16