Impact of Adding Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Supervised Pilates-based Core Stability Training in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

March 3, 2026 updated by: Al Shaymaa Shaaban Abd El Azeim, Cairo University

Impact of Adding Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Supervised Pilates-based Core Stability Training on Balance and Walking in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

To investigate the effect of adding cognitive behaviour therapy to supervised Pilates-based core stability training on balance, walking, fatigue and function in patients with multiple sclerosis

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 characterized by widespread demyelinating lesions and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and compromised sensory-motor integration. Muscle weakness predominantly seen in lower extremities and decreased postural control deteriorate physical performance and gait function. Also , respiratory dysfunction and fatigue has been occurred. Optimal trunk control is provided by the somatosensory, motor, and musculoskeletal integrity, which is mostly damaged in MS. Core stability, is defined as the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk on the pelvis to allow optimum power and movement generation, transfer, and control in other segments. A decrease in core stability affects both trunk control and the quality of limb movements due to the kinetic chain in the body. Pilates-based core stability training (PBCST) is a controlled form of exercise used to improve the stabilization of the trunk muscles. The purpose of PBCST is to train the core muscles more effectively by using the basic principles of Pilates integrated into core stabilization exercises and the activation effect of breathing on deep muscles. Transversus abdominis (TrA) activation is crucial in this training. TrA is activated by a feed-forward mechanism of neuromuscular control before sudden spinal loads or limb movements and provides postural adaptation. Thus, effective TrA activation contributes to both distal mobility and postural control by increasing trunk stability (Freeman el al., 2012). We have recently developed a cognitive behavior therapy to explain MS fatigue that integrates the findings across biological and psychosocial research. This model proposes that primary disease factors trigger the initial symptom of fatigue in MS, and the fatigue is perpetuated or worsened depending . fifty patients with MS will be assigned randomly into two equal group; first one will receive cognitive behavioral therapy and pilates and the other will receive pilates only for eight weeks

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.
90

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

  • Egypt
    • Dokki
      • Giza, Dokki, Egypt, 11351
        • Alshaymaa Shaaban Abdelazeim

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • A score of 3.5 or less on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) because individuals with an EDSS score greater than 3.5 need more assistance, being less independent.
  • Age over 18 years
  • All definite multiple sclerosis patients diagnosed as MS according to revised McDonald criteria 2017
  • Both males and females were included

Exclusion Criteria:

-Individuals who had orthopedic, neurologic, and psychological problems that accompanied MS that might affect the treatment results-

  • serious cognitive problems; performed regular exercise; were involved in another physiotherapy and rehabilitation program related to MS(Kurtzke, 1993)
  • Pregnant were not included.
  • Individuals who had an exacerbation during the treatment period

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: Double

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 based core stability training and congnitive therapy
the patients will receive pilates and cognitive therapy three times a week for eight weeks
Other: pilates based core stability training and congnitive therapy
Exercises were structured in different conditions such as supine, side-lying, prone, quadruped, sitting, and standing positions. The various variations of each exercise were created so that the easier or more difficult versions of the exercises were selected according to the level of the patients, basically in the same training plan for all.the patients also will receive cognitive behavioural therapy.The CBT manual was written specifically for this trial. The sessions were collaborative in style, and the therapist used Socratic questioning wherever possible. The main aim was to challenge any behavioral, cognitive, emotional and external factors that may be contributing to MS fatigue.
Active Comparator: Pilates based core stability training
the patients will receive pilates three times a week for eight weeks
Other: Pilates based core stability training
Exercises were structured in different conditions such as supine, side-lying, prone, quadruped, sitting, and standing positions. The various variations of each exercise were created so that the easier or more difficult versions of the exercises were selected according to the level of the patients, basically in the same training plan for all. The exercises were gradually made more difficult to increase the stabilization of the trunk by gradually reducing the support surface, increasing the extremity loading, and adding various materials.Exercises were progressed every 2 weeks in both groups and were performed with 10 repetitions for the first 4 weeks and 15 repetitions for the next 4 weeks.

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
walking assessment
Time Frame: up to eight weeks
walking will be assessed by walkway device
up to eight weeks
balance
Time Frame: up to eight weeks
balance will be assessed by biodex balance device
up to eight 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
Measure Description
Time Frame
fatigue
Time Frame: up to eight weeks
fatigue severity scale will be used for assessment of fatigue. The FSS is a self-reported questionnaire that is simple and easy to use. It consists of 9 statements that rate the severity of the patient's fatigue symptoms in terms of how these symptoms affect motivation, exercise, physical function, and activities of daily living. Reflecting on their condition over the past week, patients score each item from 1 to 7, based on the extent, to which they agree or disagree with each statement (1 = strong disagreement, 7 = strong agreement).
up to eight weeks
life disability
Time Frame: up to eight weeks
short form 36 will be used for assessment the quality of life in eight domains. score the SF-36, scales are standardized with a scoring algorithm or by the SF-36v2 scoring software to obtain a score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health status, and a mean score of 50 has been articulated as a normative value for all scales.
up to eight 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.
Cairo University

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.
August 15, 2023

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.
February 28, 2026

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.
February 28, 2026

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).
August 7, 2023

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.
August 7, 2023

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.
August 15, 2023

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 5, 2026

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.
March 3, 2026

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.
March 1, 2026

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.
  • p.t.REC/012/004535

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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