Effectiveness of the EXOPULSE Mollii Ⓡ Suit in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Randomized Clinical Trial
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 12
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- referred pain
研究概览
简要总结
Abstract:
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with unknown etiology, causing a variety of symptoms including impaired balance, coordination, and walking difficulties. The Exopulse Mollii Ⓡ suit is an innovative approach for non-invasive, self-administered electrical stimulation designed to alleviate spasticity and improve motor function in various neurological conditions.
Objective:
To determine the effectiveness of the Exopulse Mollii Ⓡ suit in improving motor control in patients with MS.
Methods:
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial will be conducted, recruiting patients diagnosed with MS , aged 18 or above, with a Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score between 2 and 4. Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups receiving either inactive or active Exopulse Mollii Ⓡ treatment for 60 minutes, three times a week, for three weeks. Outcome measures include pain, balance, gait speed, risk of falls, perception of walking difficulties, and quality of life assessed using validated scales. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS v.29.0.0.0.
Results:
Data on age, sex, weight, and MS-related factors will be collected at baseline. Primary outcomes include changes in pain, balance, and gait speed, while secondary outcomes encompass risk of falls, perception of walking difficulties, and quality of life. Analysis will compare mean differences between groups using appropriate statistical tests.
Conclusion:
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Exopulse Mollii Ⓡ suit in enhancing motor function in MS patients. Findings may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for managing MS-related symptoms and improving patients' quality of life.
详细描述
Introduction:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with unknown etiology. Common symptoms include fatigue, visual disturbances, balance and coordination problems, sensory disturbances, spasticity, cognitive and emotional disorders, speech impairments, bladder and bowel issues, and sexual dysfunction. MS affects approximately 2.2 million people worldwide. Gait abnormalities are a distinctive feature of MS and a significant cause of disability and reduced health-related quality of life. Individuals with MS typically exhibit slower walking speeds, lower cadence, and increased variability between strides, attributed to demyelination resulting in reduced conductivity in the somatosensory nervous system, decreased muscle strength, vestibular dysfunction, and severe fatigue.
The EXOPULSE Mollii Ⓡ method is an innovative approach to non-invasive, self-administered electrical stimulation using multiple electrodes incorporated into a full-body suit. Comprising comfortable, breathable, and washable synthetic material, the Mollii Ⓡ suit primarily aims to alleviate disabling spasticity and enhance motor function. The method operates on the concept of reciprocal inhibition induced by stimulating the antagonist of a spastic muscle at low frequencies and intensities, thus considered to reduce spasticity. Moreover, the EXOPULSE Mollii Ⓡ suit has demonstrated benefits in children with cerebral palsy, spasticity, and chronic stroke patients. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of a 60-minute session with the EXOPULSE Mollii Ⓡ suit on patients with multiple sclerosis.
Methodology:
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial will be conducted, with two investigators performing the intervention and a third responsible for programming the suits and attaching the belt. Patients will be recruited from the Fivan Foundation, where the intervention will take place. Recruitment and patient selection will be conducted through therapists at the center, informed in advance about the project's content. The suits, provided by the Fivan Foundation and Ottobock, consist of comfortable, breathable, and washable synthetic pants and jackets. Patients meeting the following inclusion criteria will be selected:
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Crossover
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator)
盲法说明
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial is proposed, in which two researchers will conduct the intervention, and a third researcher will be responsible for programming the suits and attaching the belt to the suit. The data will be analyzed by a fourth researcher.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •• Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis as confirmed by a physician using McDonald's criteria.
- •Age over 18 years.
- •Ability to comprehend verbal commands.
- •Scoring between 2 and 4 on the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC).
排除标准
- •Pregnancy.
- •Having an intrathecal baclofen pump.
- •Having received botulinum toxin injections in the last 3 months.
- •Wearing electronic or magnetic medical devices (pacemakers, shunts, etc.) that may be affected by magnets.
- •BMI > 35.
结局指标
主要结局
referred pain
时间窗: 3 weeks
Visual analogue scale. Range: 0 to 10 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate higher levels of pain or symptoms.
Balance
时间窗: 3 weeks
Berg Balance Scale; Range: 0 to 56 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better balance and motor function.
gait speed and distance
时间窗: 3 weeks
6 minutes walking test; Interpretation: Interpretation: Greater distances indicate better functional capacity and endurance.
次要结局
- perceived quality of life(3 weeks)
- fall risk(3 weeks)
- perception of walking difficulties(3 weeks)