The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Gait, Balance, and Cognitive Functions in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis (HIIT-MS)

May 18, 2026 updated by: Kübra Turan, Hacettepe University

Investigating the Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Gait, Balance, and Cognition in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

This study aims to comparatively investigate the effects of low-volume High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on gait, balance, cognitive functions, and neurovascular biomarkers (BDNF, VEGF) in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This randomized controlled trial will be conducted at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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

Individuals with MS aged 18 and older, with an EDSS score of 0-4, no relapse in the past three months, and medically stable condition will be randomized into two groups using a sealed-envelope method. Group 1 will receive MICT on a cycle ergometer (twice weekly, 8 weeks); Group 2 will receive low-volume HIIT with the same frequency. Both groups will receive an individualized physiotherapy program after each aerobic session. Outcomes include gait (TUG, T25FW, DGI), balance (Mini-BESTest, mCTSIB), cognitive function (BICAMS: SDMT, CVLT-II, BVMT-R), exercise capacity (ISWT), and blood biomarkers (BDNF, VEGF) assessed via ELISA.

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 (Estimated)

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.
40

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.

Study Locations

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:

  • Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by a neurologist (Hacettepe University Hospitals, Neurology Outpatient Clinic)
  • Age 18 years and older
  • EDSS score between 0 and 4
  • Score of 24 or above on the Standardized Mini Mental State Examination
  • No relapse in the past 3 months
  • Medically stable for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any additional cardiopulmonary, neurological, or systemic disease other than MS

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: 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.
Active Comparator: MICT Group (Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training)
Cycle ergometer-based MICT, twice weekly for 8 weeks, starting at 60% of peak workload, progressing to 80%. Sessions include 5-min warm-up, 20-30 min exercise, 5-min cool-down, followed by 30-min individualized physiotherapy.
Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT)
Cycle ergometer-based exercise, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Starting intensity at 60% of peak workload, progressing to 80%. Each session includes 5-min warm-up, 20-30 min continuous exercise, and 5-min cool-down, followed by 30-min individualized physiotherapy program.
Experimental: HIIT Group (High-Intensity Interval Training)
HIIT on cycle ergometer, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Protocol: 5-min warm-up (40% peak workload), 10 × 1-min intervals at 90% peak workload with 1-min active recovery (60% peak workload) between each, followed by 5-min cool-down. Total session: ~20 min aerobic + 30-min individualized physiotherapy.
Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Cycle ergometer-based exercise, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Each session includes 5-min warm-up (40% peak workload), 10 × 1-min intervals at 90% peak workload with 1-min active recovery (60% peak workload) between each interval, and 5-min cool-down. Total aerobic exercise duration: ~20 min, followed by 30-min individualized physiotherapy program.

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
Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Participants are asked to rise from a standard chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down as fast as safely possible. Measured in seconds. Lower values indicate better functional mobility and balance.
Baseline and 8 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
Serum BDNF levels (ELISA)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Baseline and 8 weeks
Serum VEGF levels (ELISA)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Baseline and 8 weeks
Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (T25FW)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (T25FW). Participants are instructed to walk 7.62 meters (25 feet) as quickly and safely as possible. Measured in seconds. Lower values indicate better walking speed.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Assesses the ability to maintain balance while walking under varied conditions across 8 tasks. Minimum score: 0, Maximum score: 24. Higher scores indicate better dynamic gait balance.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT). Participants walk between two cones placed 9 meters apart at increasing speeds guided by audio signals until they can no longer maintain the required pace. Measured in meters walked. Higher values indicate better functional exercise capacity.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini BESTest). Assesses dynamic balance across 14 items in 4 subsections: anticipatory postural control, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, and dynamic gait. Minimum score: 0, Maximum score: 28. Higher scores indicate better balance performance.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Modified CTSIB (mCTSIB) - Static Posturography
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (mCTSIB). Assesses static postural stability under 4 conditions: eyes open/closed on firm and foam surfaces. Postural sway is measured in degrees per second. Lower values indicate better static balance.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Part of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery. Assesses information processing speed in neurological conditions. Participants are asked to match symbols with corresponding digits within 90 seconds. Minimum score: 0, Maximum score: 110. Higher scores indicate better cognitive processing speed.
Baseline and 8 weeks
California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Part of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery. Assesses auditory and verbal memory. A list of 16 words across 4 categories is read aloud and recalled over 5 trials. Minimum score: 0, Maximum score: 80. Higher scores indicate better verbal learning and memory.
Baseline and 8 weeks
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Part of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery. Assesses visuospatial memory. Six geometric figures are presented and participants are asked to reproduce them from memory. Minimum score: 0, Maximum score: 36. Higher scores indicate better visuospatial memory.
Baseline and 8 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.
Hacettepe University

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: Yeliz SALCI, Hacettepe 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 (Estimated)

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 1, 2026

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.
June 1, 2028

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.
June 1, 2028

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 5, 2026

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 5, 2026

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 11, 2026

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.
May 20, 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.
May 18, 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.
May 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.
  • FTREK26/19

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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