Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Mobility in Multiple Sclerosis

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the capacity of a 6-week treatment with neuromuscular electrical stimulation to improve walking in individuals whose mobility has been compromised by multiple sclerosis.

Detailed Description: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study arms. Those in one arm will receive a treatment with narrow stimulus pulses (0.4 ms) and those in the other arm will receive wide stimulus pulses (1 ms). The electrical stimulation will be delivered with a Vectra Genisys System.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Able to read, understand, and speak English to ensure safe participation in the project
Difficulties with walking
On stable doses of Ampyra, provigil, or other symptomatic-treating medications
No systemic steroids within the last 30 days
Not currently exercising more than 2x/wk
Able to arrange own transportation to and from the laboratories
Provide informed consent, including willingness to be randomly assigned to one of the two groups

Exclusion Criteria

Documented MS-related relapse in the last 3 months
Medical diagnosis or condition that is considered to be an absolute or relative contraindication to participating in exercise training, such as major renal, pulmonary, hepatic, cardiac, gastrointestinal, HIV, cancer (other than treated basal cell cancer), other neurological disorders, or pregnancy
Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or hypertension
History of seizure disorders
Alcohol dependence or abuse (≥2 drinks/day), or present history (last 6 months) of drug abuse
Inability to attend exercise sessions 3 days per week for 6 weeks

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Wide pulse	Wide pulse	Six-week treatment of electrical stimulation applied to the calf muscles with stimulus pulses that last 1 ms.
Narrow pulse	Narrow pulse	Six-week treatment of electrical stimulation applied to the calf muscles with stimulus pulses that last 0.4 ms.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Walking Endurance	Change from before to after 18 treatment sessions administered over a 6-week period (3 sessions/week).	Distance walked in 6 min
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale	Change from before to after 18 treatment sessions administered over a 6-week period (3 sessions/week).	MFIS scores range from 0 to 84 and higher numbers indicating worse fatigue.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maximal Walking Speed	Change from before to after 18 treatment sessions administered over a 6-week period (3 sessions/week).	The time it takes to walk 25 ft