The Therapeutic Effects of Forced Aerobic Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis

February 20, 2025 updated by: Susan Linder, The Cleveland Clinic
This project will investigate the feasibility and initial efficacy of two aerobic exercise training approaches, forced and voluntary, to improve motor function in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). We hypothesize that intensive aerobic exercise training elicits a neurorepairative and neurorestorative response on the central nervous system, which may improve motor function as it relates to gait and mobility. Should aerobic cycling, forced or voluntary, improve gait and functional mobility in persons with MS, it would serve as a new model to restoring function, rather than current models that focus on compensation.

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

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive loss of motor function, cognitive function, in addition to symptoms of fatigue and depression. These motor and non-motor symptoms negatively affect the individuals' walking ability, functional mobility, quality of life, ability to maintain gainful employment, and social engagement. Identifying rehabilitation approaches that may delay disease progression or restore lost neurologic function would have considerable impact in the field. The goal of this project is to investigate the feasibility and initial efficacy of forced or voluntary aerobic exercise training to improve gait, functional mobility, fatigue and quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Current rehabilitative approaches for PwMS focus on training compensatory strategies rather than restoring neurological function. Substantial evidence indicates that aerobic exercise (AE) training has the potential to enhance neurological function by restoring and repairing damaged cells, leading to improvements in gait, balance, and cognitive function in PwMS. Despite evidence of the potential disease-modifying properties of AE, numerous physical, behavioral, and logistical barriers prevent PwMS from achieving and maintaining AE of sufficient intensity and duration to capitalize on the neurophysiologic benefits of training. Forced exercise (FE) is a novel approach to AE training that has been successfully applied to individuals with Parkinson's disease and stroke, in which the voluntary efforts of the individual are augmented, allowing for disease-altering effects of intensive exercise training. During FE, pedaling cadence on a stationary cycle is augmented by a motor to assist, but not replace, the voluntary efforts of the individual. It is hypothesized that PwMS cannot sustain high rates of voluntary exercise necessary to elicit neural repair; therefore, FE is necessary to overcome physical, behavioral and logistical barriers to enhance neuroplasticity to improve gait, QOL, and the ability to participate in life activities. Positive results from our FE trials in Parkinson's disease and stroke have guided us in designing the scientific methodology for the proposed trial in PwMS. Twenty adults with relapsing-remitting MS and mild to moderate gait impairment will be randomized to undergo 1) FE or 2) voluntary aerobic exercise (VE). Both groups will attend 2X/week for 12 weeks. Exercise variables will be collected for each session as a measure of feasibility to determine how PwMS respond to each exercise approach. Clinical, biomechanical, and self-reported outcomes will be gathered prior to, after, and 4-weeks after the intervention to determine the effects of both modes of exercise on spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait, functional mobility, balance, fatigue, physical activity levels, and quality of life. Should our findings confirm our hypothesis that intensive exercise training can have disease-altering effects, a new direction for MS rehabilitation approaches would ensue, empowering PwMS to take control of their disease to improve function and reduce disability.

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.
22

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

  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Cleveland Clinic
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

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

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Confirmed diagnosis of RRMS with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 1.5 and 6.5,
  2. 18-75 years of age,
  3. Deemed minimal risk for cardiovascular event using American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Pre-participation Criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. hospitalization for myocardial infarction, heart failure or heart surgery within 3 months,
  2. serious cardiac arrhythmia,
  3. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
  4. severe aortic stenosis,
  5. pulmonary embolus,
  6. significant contractures,
  7. dysphagia resulting in inability to sufficiently hydrate, and
  8. other contraindication to exercise.

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: Forced Aerobic Exercise (FE)
The FE group (N=10) will complete 45 minutes of FE on the custom-engineered cycle designed to augment pedaling rate to greater than 70 revolutions per minute (RPM's). The VE group (N=10) will exercise on an identical semi-recumbent cycle ergometer at their self-selected cadence without assistance.
Behavioral: Forced Aerobic Exercise (FE)
High-rate aerobic exercise on a semi-recumbent custom-designed stationary cycle ergometer
Active Comparator: Voluntary Aerobic Exercise (VE)
The VE group (N=10) will exercise on an identical semi-recumbent cycle ergometer for 45 minutes at their self-selected cadence without assistance.
Behavioral: Voluntary Aerobic Exercise (VE)
Voluntary-rate aerobic exercise on a semi-recumbent stationary cycle ergometer

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Six Minute Walk Test
Time Frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
The distance walked over 6 minutes is measured on an oval walking track
Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Exercise Duration
Time Frame: collected during each exercise session (twice per week for 12 weeks)
Average exercise duration
collected during each exercise session (twice per week for 12 weeks)
Aerobic Intensity
Time Frame: Collected during each exercise session (twice per week for 12 weeks)
average percent max heart rate
Collected during each exercise session (twice per week for 12 weeks)
Exercise Cadence
Time Frame: collected during each exercise session (twice per week for 12 weeks)
Average Exercise Cadence (cycling rate)
collected during each exercise session (twice per week for 12 weeks)
Gait Velocity
Time Frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of gait will be obtained using 3-D motion capture and an instrumented walkway.
Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
PROMIS-29
Time Frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a set of person-centered measures that evaluates and monitors physical, mental, and social health in the general population and with individuals living with chronic conditions. Raw scores were converted to T-scores (using an adult referent population) ranging from 0-100 with a mean of 50 and standard deviation (SD) of 10 in the referent population. For the PROMIS-29 symptom-related domains (anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference), higher scores represent greater symptom burden (worse function). For the physical and participation domains, higher scores represent greater levels of function. Pain intensity is scored separately using a 0-10 scaler with higher scores representing greater pain.
Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS)
Time Frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
The MFIS is a 21-item self-reported measure of how fatigue impacts the lives of persons with multiple sclerosis. This instrument provides an assessment of the effects of fatigue as it relates to physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning. Participants rate on a 5-point Likert scale, with 0 = 'Never' to 4 = 'Almost always' their agreement with 21 statements. Total score (0-84) and subscales for physical (0-36), cognitive (0-40) and psychosocial functioning (0-8). Higher numbers indicate greater fatigue in all domains.
Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Multiple Sclerosis Manual Dexterity Test
Time Frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Assessment examining cognitive and hand function for persons with MS
Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Processing Speed Test
Time Frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)
Assessment examining processing speed using an tablet-based measure developed to closely resemble the symbol digit modalities test. Participants match symbols to digits over a 2-minute trial. The number of correct matches represents the score, with higher correct matches indicative of better processing speed performance. The low range of possible scoring is 0 with no upper range limit. In a study by Rao and colleagues (2017), persons with MS scored and average of 51.1 (+/- 11.9) on the first trial and 52.8 (+/- 2.0) on the second trial. One trial was conducted in this study.
Week 0 (baseline), Week 13 (post exercise sessions)

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
To Investigate the Role of Klotho in Promoting Neuroprotection.
Time Frame: Week 1 (exercise session 1), Week 12 (exercise session 24)
Laboratory Assessment: Blood draws will be conducted at 4 different points in time to determine the acute and long-term change in serum Klotho; at week one session one, pre- and post-exercise, and at the last session12-week exercise intervention, pre- and post-exercise.
Week 1 (exercise session 1), Week 12 (exercise session 24)

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.
The Cleveland Clinic

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: Susan M Linder, DPT, The Cleveland Clinic

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 (Actual)

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.
July 6, 2021

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.
November 29, 2022

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.
November 29, 2022

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).
May 10, 2021

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.
May 24, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

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.
May 28, 2021

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.
March 25, 2025

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.
February 20, 2025

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.
February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • 19-1003

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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