MedPath

Effect of an Internet-based At-home Physical Training Protocol on Quality of Life, Fatigue, Functional Performance, Aerobic Capacity and Muscle Strength in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Multiple Sclerosis
Interventions
Behavioral: e-training
Other: Control
Registration Number
NCT02771652
Lead Sponsor
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
Brief Summary

In this randomised controlled trial, the feasibility and effectiveness of an internet-based exercise intervention including progressive strength and endurance training (e-training) for PwMS was investigated. Primary outcome was health-related quality of life, secondary outcomes were muscle strength, aerobic capacity and lung function, physical activity and fatigue.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
126
Inclusion Criteria
  • diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis (McDonald criteria),
  • an EDSS score of less than or equal to 4.0,
  • not less than 4 weeks of clinical stability prior to inclusion in the study,
  • access to the internet.
  • the taking of immunotherapeutic agents was not relevant and not monitored
Exclusion Criteria
  • primary progressive multiple sclerosis
  • clinically relevant internal disease, especially cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, metabolic and orthopedic diseases

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
e-training interventione-trainingResistance and endurance training
ControlControlno exercise
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Hamburg Quality of Life Questionnaire for Multiple Sclerosis (HAQUAMS)Assessments took place at baseline and at 3 months

38 items generate the subscales of fatigue/thinking, mobility of the lower/upper extremities, communication and mood. The HAQUAMS total score is calculated from a mean of the subscales, providing a total score between 1 and 5. Higher scores in HAQUAMS indicate lower levels in HRQoL. The primary outcome will be the change over time from baseline to month 3.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Aerobic capacityAssessments took place at baseline and after 3 and 6 months

As a marker of endurance capacity, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was determined by the spiroergometry device Master Screen CPX on a bicycle ergometer (Sanabike 250F, MESA, Germany) at 70-80 revolutions per minute.

Würzburg Fatigue Scale (WEIMuS)Assessments took place at baseline, at 3 and 6 months

This questionnaire contains 17 items that form a physical and cognitive subscale. The total score ranges from zero to a maximum of 68 points (maximum fatigue). The cut-off value for the presence of fatigue is above 32.

Muscle strength lower extremitiesAssessments took place at baseline and after 3 and 6 months

Maximum isometric muscle strength was tested with the M3 Diagnos machine (Schnell, Peutenhausen, Germany).

Forced vital capacityAssessments took place at baseline and after 3 and 6 months

Forced vital capacity (FVC) was tested with the Master Screen CPX System (Viasys Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Germany).

Physical activityAssessments took place at baseline and after 3 and 6 months

Habitual physical activity was assessed with the German version of the Baecke Questionnaire including three activity indices (work, sport, leisure time PA). There were limitations concerning content validity in all indices; therefore, the sport score of the sport index was used. That score is the product of the intensity, duration and frequency of a participant's reported sports activities. Higher scores indicate a higher level of PA.

Peak expiratory flowAssessments took place at baseline and after 3 and 6 months

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was tested with the Master Screen CPX System (Viasys Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Germany).

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath