Vestibular Rehabilitation for Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: Who Benefits the Most? (MSVR3trial)

Summary

Impaired standing balance, fatigue and abnormal eye movements are common problems in persons with MS. These complaints are related to advanced disability and decreased quality of life for persons with MS. Researchers from the University of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center (RMMSC) at the Anschutz Medical Campus have recently completed and published a research study that showed an exercise program consisting of balance and eye movement training, referred to as a vestibular rehabilitation program, was very effective in improving self-reported fatigue and standing balance in persons with MS. This initial study was the first to have proven that this type of exercise program is able to improve both of these potentially devastating complaints.

The investigators from this initial study have partnered with other well-established researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center (RMMSC) at the Anschutz Medical Campus to advance our knowledge of the effect of vestibular rehabilitation for persons with MS. Using the findings from the initial study, the investigators propose to conduct a larger study specifically identifying persons with MS who have brain lesion involvement in areas that control balance and eye movements. Primarily, the current study will determine if those individuals who have involvement in these areas of the brain improve more in balance and fatigue compared to those who do not following participation in a vestibular rehabilitation program. Additionally, the investigators will test if study participants who have abnormal eye movement control, will improve their eye movement control following the training program. For persons with MS, impaired eye movements can lead to a considerable decline in health status, further illustrating the importance of the research plan to study this important factor.

The investigators believe that greater improvements in balance and fatigue are possible from a longer treatment, and that participants who have brain lesion involvement in areas that help control balance and eye movements will benefit greater than those who do not. This information is important to determine who is more likely to benefit from a vestibular rehabilitation program. Additionally, the researchers will be able to measure changes in eye movement control, providing valuable insight into the reasons for the program's effectiveness.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Balance
• Fatigue
• Eye Movement

Interventions

OTHER

Vestibular rehabilitation: balance and eye movement exercises

The Experimental group will perform 1-hour supervised intervention sessions 2x/wk for 6-wks, then 1x/wk for 8-weeks, for a total of 20 supervised sessions. The intervention is a progressive vestibular rehabilitation program comprised of balance and eye movement exercises as detailed in our preliminary study report. The balance training includes standing and walking tasks on varied types of compliant surfaces, base of support, head movements, visual input and eye-hand tasks. The tasks will progress from simple to more complex. Eye movement exercises will include voluntary saccadic eye movements and smooth pursuit movements. Vestibulo-ocular eye training will be performed while visually fixating on a stationary object, while moving the head up and down and side to side at various speeds, progressing from sitting to standing on firm and compliant surface. Participants in the Experimental group will be given items of the exercise program to perform as a home exercise program.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Colorado, Denver

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jeffrey R Hebert, PhD, PT · University of Colorado, Denver

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-10-31

Primary Completion

2018-08-31

Completion

2018-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations