Self-Management Program Based on Physical Exercises in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Summary

Fatigue is the most chronic and disabling symptom in multiple sclerosis patients. Self-management physical exercise programs seem promising to allow patients to improve their fatigue and their deconditioning. However, the effectiveness of such programs has been poorly assessed until now. The objectives of the present study are to evaluate the relationships between fatigue and physical capacity among slightly affected MS patients, and to carry on a large trial to assess the effectiveness of a self-management exercise program in the same patients. Sixty-four patients will be included and will be asked, after an educational period, to perform at least three exercise sessions of more than 30 minutes each week, over a period of three months. Patients will be splitted in two groups : one group will perform endurance and resistance physical exercises, and the other one will perform relaxation exercises with the help of soothing music. A regular coaching will adapt the exercises and motivate the patients to continue the treatment. Assessors won't be informed of patients' treatment. Four evaluations will be done, and will notably assess muscle strength, endurance, fatigue and social participation.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

OTHER

Physical exercises in an self-management setting

Workout sessions will be based on the principle of self-management, without direct supervision of a therapist. Sessions will include: 1\. Twenty minutes of aerobic exercises 1.2. Five to ten minutes of stretching exercises. 2.3. Fifteen to twenty minutes of resistance exercises to improve muscle strength of lower limbs. The targeted muscles will be the hip flexors, the knee extensors and flexors, and the foot extensors and plantar flexors. These exercises will comply with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM, 2011). Patients will be asked to perform muscle contractions against the gravity (about 15 repeats). There will be on average 5 to 6 series per session. Several muscle groups of the lower limbs will be trained during the same session.

OTHER

Relaxation

The relaxation sessions of the control group will be carried out with the help of soothing music. Patients will receive a Compact Disc (CD) of soothing music at the inclusion. Patients will also have an electronic training logbook that will be reviewed each week by a therapist. They will have a phone contact with the therapist every two weeks, to discuss about the treatment and adapt it if necessary. They will also have a reminder session every four weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hôpital Raymond Poincaré

  collaborator OTHER

• CHU de Reims

  collaborator OTHER

• Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Maxime VALET, MD · UCL

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-12-31

Primary Completion

2018-12-31

Completion

2020-01-31

Countries

• Belgium

Study Locations