Multiple Sclerosis and Pilates

June 27, 2018 updated by: Phil Chilibeck, University of Saskatchewan

Determining the Impact of a Pilates Program in Multiple Sclerosis

Pilates is becoming popular among the multiple sclerosis (MS) community as an alternative to the more traditional exercise programs. Although somewhat limited, previous research has suggested Pilates may have some beneficial effects in MS. This 12-week, single-blinded, randomized controlled study has one intervention group (Pilates and massage therapy) and one control group (massage therapy only). The primary outcome of interest is the change in walking ability between groups. Secondary outcomes include other measures of physical performance and quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In the recent 2015 MS Society of Canada MS Wellness Survey almost 25% of people indicated that they think physical activity is the most important area of wellness, yet physical inactivity is still common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). While some of this may be due to factors related to MS such as fatigue, pain, and physical restrictions, research has shown that exercise has beneficial effects on mobility, strength, balance, and overall quality of life. However, because the symptoms of MS vary, there is not one optimal exercise program that exists. Pilates may be a good exercise option for MS. Pilates focuses on body positions and movement, with specific attention on the core (stomach or trunk) muscles. Very few researchers have studied Pilates in MS, but those that have, noticed some improvements in walking, balance, and strength. There were no negative effects reported from the Pilates exercises, and the exercises can be adapted for all levels of ability in MS. We are interested in studying the effect of Pilates in MS. To do this, we will recruit 30 people with MS to participate in this study. Participants will be randomly put into either the Pilates group or the control group. Those individuals in the Pilates group will attend two 50-minute Pilates classes twice weekly, plus receive a weekly 1-hour massage therapy session. Individuals in the control group will only receive the weekly massage therapy session. At the end of the study (12 weeks), we will look to see if there are any differences between the two groups in walking ability. We will also compare other important outcomes such as muscle strength, balance, and quality of life between the two groups. Results from this study may provide individuals with another exercise option to help manage their MS and improve their wellness. Results will also be useful for organizations such as the MS Society to help make decisions about which programs and services to offer to individuals with MS.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Saskatchewan
      • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B2
        • College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Expanded Disability Status Scale of 8 or higher

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Pilates and massage
Pilates (twice per week for 50 minutes) and massage (once per week for one hour)
Other: Pilates
Pilates
Other: Massage
Massage
Active Comparator: Massage
Massage (once per week for one hour)
Other: Massage
Massage

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change from baseline in distance during the 6-minute walk test
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change from baseline in balance score for the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change in sit and reach test score for flexibility
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in timed up and go test score
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in physical activity level
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in maximal isometric knee extension strength
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in ability to recruit motor units
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in ability to recruit motor units in a fatigued state
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in trunk muscular endurance
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in lean tissue mass
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in fat mass
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline for score from the MS International Quality of Life questionnaire
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Change from baseline in adverse events
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Saskatchewan

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Charity Evans, PhD, University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 27, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 27, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 30, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 28, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 27, 2018

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2918

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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