High-Intensity, Dynamic-stability Gait Training in People With Multiple Sclerosis
Marquette University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to improve walking speed, balance, and walking in the community for people with multiple sclerosis. This trial involves intense exercise combined with walking on a shaky treadmill. Walking on a shaky treadmill helps to practice balance and intense exercise promotes the ability to walk faster and farther. In this study, participants will train with a combination of high or low intensity, and with a stable or shaky treadmill. Walking speed and endurance, balance while walking and the number of steps taken in the community will be measured before, half way through the training (15 sessions), after training (30 sessions) and six months after training.
Description
This phase I/II clinical trial examines the effects of exercise intensity and balance perturbations on treadmill training in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). People with mild to moderate MS will be assigned to one of four treadmill training groups. One group will conduct treadmill training at a high exercise intensity with balance perturbations applied to the treadmill, a second group will undergo the same training at a low exercise intensity, a third group will conduct treadmill training at a high intensity with no perturbations and the fourth group will train at low intensity with no per…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants must have a clinical diagnosis of MS according to the revised McDonald Criteria. Participants with an EDSS score of 2.0-6.5 will be included but must have a stable disease course without worsening more than 1.0 EDSS point over the last 3 months and no MS exacerbation within the preceding 4 weeks, as determined by interview and review of medical records. 2. Participants will have stable MS disease treatments. All medications will be consistent for at least 1 month prior to enrollment. No corticosteroids for at least 1 month and no botulinum toxin injections…
Interventions
- ProcedureHigh-Intensity Treadmill Training
Participants will walk on a treadmill at a speed that produces 70-80% of age-adjusted heart rate reserve or a rating of perceived exertion of 17/20. A total of 30, one hour sessions will be conducted. Training will be conducted in 10 minute bouts, with 2-3 minutes rest between bouts.
- ProcedureTreadmill Training with Perturbations
Participants will walk on a treadmill and a perturbation of the treadmill will be produced every 20s. Perturbations will randomly occur in the forward, backward, right or left directions, with a perturbation size set to 80% of stability threshold. A total of 30, one hour sessions will be conducted. Training will be conducted in 10 minute bouts with 2-3 minutes rest between bouts.
- ProcedureStandard Treadmill Training
Participants will walk on a treadmill at a speed that produces 30-40% of age-adjusted heart rate reserve. A total of 30, one hour sessions will be conducted. Training will be conducted in 10 minute bouts, with 2-3 minutes rest between bouts.
Locations (2)
- Rehabilitation Hospital of IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
- Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, Wisconsin