The Effects of In-phase Bilateral Exercise in People with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Summary

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. MS, typical presents with progression of clinical symptoms which mainly include motor and cognitive impairment, as well as reduction of patients' quality of life. Exercise is an effective approach in the management of the symptoms in people with progressive MS. Previous studies in healthy and in people with MS, reported a close relationship between cognitive functions and upper limb performance. Since patients with progressive MS facing difficulties with performing complex exercises due to cognitive dysfunctions and given the close relationship between cognitive functions and manual dexterity, a reasonable question arises whether a type of upper limbs exercises with less cognitive demands will improve the information processing speed in people with progressive MS. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of in-phase bilateral upper limbs exercises on the information processing speed, in patients with progressive MS, given that in-phase bilateral movements needs less attentional load than the other types of bilateral coordination. The intervention protocol lasted for 12 consecutive weeks (30-60 minutes /session x 3 sessions/week) and included in-phase bilateral exercises of the upper limbs, adapted to different sports activities and to functional training. Results from the statistical analysis indicated improvement of the experimental group compared to the control group, on the information processing speed alongside with improvement of motor skills.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis, Primary Progressive
• Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

In-phase Bilateral Exercise

The exercise program of the experimental group consisted of exercises based on in-phase bilateral movements of the upper and lower limbs, which were adapted to different sport activities and to fitness functional exercises. The participants of experimental group performed the specific type exercises three times per week, for 12 consecutive weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Conservative exercises

The participants of the active control group, underwent an exercise program based on conventional exercises, such as strengthening of the major muscle groups of the trunk, resistance exercises for the upper and lower limbs and body weight support treadmill exercise.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics

  collaborator OTHER

• Cyprus University of Technology

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dimitris Sokratous · Cyprus University of Technology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-10-02

Primary Completion

2023-12-22

Completion

2023-12-22

Countries

• Cyprus

Study Locations