Lifestyle Physical Activity Intervention for Persons Newly Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis

September 16, 2025 updated by: Robert W Motl, University of Illinois at Chicago

The overall objective of the current study is to determine the efficacy of a 16-week remotely delivered lifestyle behavioral intervention compared with a control condition (i.e., waitlist control) in persons newly diagnosed with MS (disease duration ≤ 2 years).

Specific Aim 1: To evaluate the changes in self-report and device-measured physical activity after the 16-week remotely delivered physical activity behavior change intervention compared with a control condition (i.e., waitlist control) in persons who have diagnosed with MS within the past two years. The investigators hypothesize that the 16-week behavior change intervention will yield greater improvements in physical activity levels than the control condition immediately after the intervention.

Specific Aim 2: To investigate the efficacy of the 16-week, remotely delivered physical activity behavior change intervention compared with the control condition for improvements in fatigue, depression, anxiety, and QoL in persons newly diagnosed with MS. The investigators hypothesize that there will be beneficial effects on the symptoms and QoL outcomes immediately after the physical activity intervention compared with minimal changes in the control condition.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

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 prevalent neurological disease of the central nervous system that is the leading cause of neurological disability among young adults in the United States. This disease results in the progressive loss of walking, substantial worsening of cognition, symptoms of fatigue, as well as compromised quality of life (QoL). There is evidence that physical activity is beneficially associated with walking mobility, cognitive function, symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and pain in persons with MS. Nonetheless, this population is strikingly sedentary and physically inactive, including persons newly diagnosed with MS (diagnosed with MS for two years or less). Indeed, approximately 40% of persons with MS reported stopping physical activity after an MS diagnosis, and persons recently diagnosed with MS have not been included in physical activity intervention research. Yet, the early stage of MS represents an ideal time point for initiating physical activity for life-long benefits. There is further evidence that physical activity and exercises interventions delivered remotely can yield benefits in managing MS symptoms and comorbidities, and disability progression. To this end, the objective of this current study is to examine the efficacy of a 16-week remotely delivered behavioral intervention, compared with a control condition (i.e., waitlist control), for increasing physical activity and improving secondary outcomes in persons newly diagnosed with MS (disease duration ≤ 2 years). Participants will complete a series of assessments of physical activity, MS symptoms, and physical and cognitive function before and immediately after the 16-week program. The assessments involve the completion of a battery of questionnaires remotely over the Internet. The investigators will also ask that participants wear an accelerometer (like a pedometer) during the waking hours of the day for a 7-day period as an assessment of physical activity. The first assessments occur upon enrollment in the study (Baseline Assessment) and the second occurs right after the intervention (16- week Assessment). In this study, participants will be randomly assigned into 1 of 2 conditions: a physical activity condition (receive the intervention immediately after baseline assessment) or a waitlist condition (receive the intervention after the 16-week assessment). Participants in both conditions will receive access to an Internet delivered program for 16 weeks as well as one-on-one coaching through Zoom. The investigators will ask that participants in the physical activity condition wear a Fitbit (this is different from the accelerometer) for tracking physical activity daily during the 16- week period. The investigators will further ask that information from the Fitbit be recorded into a logbook daily.

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.
52

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Lexi Huynh, PhD
  • Phone Number: 312-996-6615
  • Email: panms@uic.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
        • University of Illinois Chicago

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:

  • aged 18 years or older
  • self-reported diagnosis of MS by a neurologist within the past 2 years
  • relapse-free for the past 30 days
  • ability to speak and read English as primary language
  • internet and e-mail access, and willingness to complete the testing and questionnaires
  • ambulatory without an assistive device (e.g., cane)
  • insufficiently active (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) < 14)
  • visual ability and literacy to read newsletter with font size 14 points
  • on a disease-modifying therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • pregnant
  • have elevated risk for undertaking strenuous or maximal exercise based on two or more affirmatives on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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: Physical activity condition
Participants in this arm will receive a remote-delivered physical activity program for 16 weeks that includes access to electronic newsletters and regular one-on-one coaching chats (15 - 30 minutes) over Zoom with a behavioral coach after the baseline assessment. Throughout the 16-week period, The investigators will ask participants to wear a Fitbit (provided) for tracking daily physical activity.
Behavioral: Physical activity condition

Participants will receive a remote-delivered physical activity program for 16 weeks that includes access to electronic newsletters and regular chats over Zoom with a behavioral coach:

  • The newsletters provide behavioral strategies such as information on the benefits of physical activity, goal setting and monitoring, for increasing and maintaining physical activity levels.

    • Throughout the 16-week period, the investigators will ask participants to wear a Fitbit and record step count into a logbook daily for tracking physical activity.
    • The newsletter will be emailed to participants weekly throughout the program. The newsletters include knowledge, skills, and resources related to physical activity in the early stages of MS.
  • The program also involves 7 1-on-1 coaching chats with a coach to guide participants through the program and navigate challenges. These chats are conducted over Zoom and generally last about 15 - 30 minutes each. These sessions will not be recorded.
Other: Waitlist condition
Participants will receive access to a remote-delivered physical activity program for 16 weeks that includes access to electronic newsletters and regular one-on-one coaching chats (15-30 minutes) over Zoom with a behavioral coach after the follow-up assessment.
Behavioral: Waitlist condition

Participants will receive access to a remote-delivered physical activity program for 16 weeks that includes access to electronic newsletters and regular chats over Zoom with a behavioral coach:

  • The newsletters provide information on the benefits of physical activity, goal setting and monitoring, and other behavioral strategies for increasing and maintaining physical activity levels.

    • The newsletter will be emailed to participants weekly throughout the program.
    • Content on the newsletter includes knowledge and skills related to physical activity in the early stages of MS, text of individuals with MS discussing their experiences, web links, worksheets, and brochures.
  • The program also involves 7 one-on-one video coaching chats with a behavioral coach to guide participants through the program and navigate challenges. These chats are conducted face- to-face over Zoom and generally last about 15 - 30 minutes each. The investigators do not record these sessions.

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
Physical Activity Behavior
Time Frame: Changes in the GLTEQ scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ); scores range between 0 (min) and 119 (max), higher scores indicate greater engagement in physical activity behavior.
Changes in the GLTEQ scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Physical Activity Behavior
Time Frame: Changes in the IPAQ scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); scores range between 0 (min) and 107 (max), higher scores indicate greater engagement in physical activity behavior.
Changes in the IPAQ scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Physical Activity Level (Light physical activity)
Time Frame: Changes in time spent in LPA from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Time (minutes/day) spent in light physical activity (LPA) will be measured by a waist-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph model GT3X+); participants will wear the accelerometer on a belt around their waist during the waking hours of a 7 day period; a longer time of LPA reflects a higher level of physical activity.
Changes in time spent in LPA from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Physical Activity Level (Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity)
Time Frame: Changes in time spent in MVPA from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Time (minutes/day) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) will be measured by a waist-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph model GT3X+); participants will wear the accelerometer on a belt around their waist during the waking hours of a 7 day period; a longer time of MVPA reflects a higher level of physical activity.
Changes in time spent in MVPA from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Physical Activity Level (Daily step count)
Time Frame: Changes in time spent in daily step count from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Daily step count will be measured by a waist-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph model GT3X+); participants will wear the accelerometer on a belt around their waist during the waking hours of a 7 day period; a greater number of steps per day reflects a higher level of physical activity.
Changes in time spent in daily step count from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)

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
Health-related quality of Life
Time Frame: Changes in SF-12 scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Short Form Health Status Survey (SF-12); scores range between 0 (min) and 100 (max), higher scores indicate better physical and mental aspects of quality of life.
Changes in SF-12 scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Health-related Quality of Life
Time Frame: Changes in MSIS-29 scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29); scores range between 0 (min) and 100 (max), higher scores indicate greater impact of disease on daily function (i.e. worse outcomes).
Changes in MSIS-29 scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Fatigue Severity
Time Frame: Changes in fatigue severity scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS); scores range between 1 (min) and 7 (max), higher scores reflect greater fatigue severity.
Changes in fatigue severity scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Depressive Symptoms
Time Frame: Changes in depressive symptoms scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); scores range between 0 (min) and 21 (max), higher scores reflect greater frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Changes in depressive symptoms scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Anxiety
Time Frame: Changes in anxiety scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); scores range between 0 (min) and 21 (max), higher scores reflect greater frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Changes in anxiety scores from Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 weeks (post-intervention)

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 Illinois at Chicago

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.
April 29, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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, 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).
March 27, 2024

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.
April 3, 2024

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.
April 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

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.
September 17, 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.
September 16, 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.
September 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.
  • STUDY2023-1565

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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