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Effect of Active-Passive Trainer Cycling on Multiple Sclerosis

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Multiple Sclerosis
Interventions
Other: Usual care
Other: APT
Registration Number
NCT02737904
Lead Sponsor
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Brief Summary

This randomised controlled trial aims to explore the effectiveness of a four week programme of exercise using lower limb Active Passive trainer (APT) (MOTOmed trainer) in terms of spasticity in people with moderate to severe Multiple Sclerosis.

Detailed Description

Exercise is beneficial for people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). However, exercise options for those with moderate to high levels of disability are limited. Cycling, delivered with an Active Passive Trainer (APT) is one exercise option often offered within rehabilitation/exercise settings and many pwMS buy APTs for home use. Anecdotally, pwMS report they feel better and their spasticity reduces after APT cycling, however there is a lack of evidence to support this.

30 pwMS will be recruited from the Physical Disability Rehabilitation Unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, and randomised to APT + usual care or usual care only. Those in the APT group will receive 30 minutes of APT (2 mins passive warm up, 26 mins active cycling and 2 mins passive cool down), five days per week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures will be cardiovascular fitness measured using the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), spasticity assessed by Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale (MSSS-88), function assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Timed 25 foot walk test (T25FW), Quality of Life measured by MSQOL-54. Outcome measures will be assessed in both groups before and after the 4 week intervention period. Symmetry, distance cycled and power will be recorded following each cycling session in the intervention group.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
24
Inclusion Criteria
  • have a confirmed diagnosis of progressive MS
  • are aged over 18 years
  • have an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of between 6.5 (requires two walking aids - pair of canes, crutches, etc - to walk about 20m without resting) and 8.5 (essentially restricted to bed much of day); has some effective use of arms (retains some self care functions) and spasticity in their lower limbs (self reported)
Exclusion Criteria
  • cognitive impairment (cannot understand instructions)
  • other co-morbidities which would preclude them taking part in exercise
  • visual impairment (such that they cannot see the screen on the APT)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control groupUsual careUsual care - conventional, personalised in-patient rehabilitation 4 weeks duration
Intervention groupUsual careUsual care - conventional, personalised in-patient rehabilitation - plus APT cycling programme 4 weeks duration
Intervention groupAPTUsual care - conventional, personalised in-patient rehabilitation - plus APT cycling programme 4 weeks duration
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Effect of spasticity on daily life scored on Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale (MSSS-88)Change from Baseline at 4 weeks

Score on Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale (MSSS-88)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Spasticity scored on Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)Change from Baseline at 4 weeks

Score on Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

Cardiovascular fitness calculated using Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope (OUES)Change from Baseline at 4 weeks

Calculated Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope (OUES)

Function - FIMChange from Baseline at 4 weeks

Score on Functional Independence Measure (FIM)

Function - T25FWChange from Baseline at 4 weeks

Timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW)

Quality of Life (MSQOL)-54 scaleChange from Baseline at 4 weeks

Score on Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL)-54 scale

APT cycling performance - symmetryChange from Baseline at 4 weeks

Proportion of time when effort of right versus left leg is evenly distributed ie 50%/50%

APT cycling performance - distanceChange from Baseline at 4 weeks

Distance cycled

APT cycling performance - powerChange from Baseline at 4 weeks

Overall power (measured in watts)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Physical Disability Rehabilitation Unit (PDRU), Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

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Glasgow, United Kingdom

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