Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation on MS-related Fatigue: a Randomized Control Trial

January 25, 2013 updated by: University of Colorado, Denver

The Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation on MS-related Fatigue and Upright Postural Control: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel exercise intervention for individuals who live with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The investigators investigated the effect of a vestibular exercise program designed to help people with MS with two common problems: fatigue and difficulties with balance while standing and walking. Our primary aim was to compare the results from persons with MS that participated in the vestibular exercises (Experimental group) to individuals who participated in a more typical rehabilitation exercise program consisting of stretching and endurance exercise (Exercise Control group) or people who did not receive exercise treatment (Control group).

The study was a 14-week randomized controlled trial. Thirty eighty participants were followed for four weeks before being randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant had an equal chance of being assigned to either the Experimental group, Exercise Control group or the Control group. The Experimental group received a standardized vestibular exercise program that included upright postural control (balance) and eye movement exercises (6 one-hour sessions over 6 weeks). The Exercise Control group received endurance training using a stationary bicycle and leg stretching exercises (6 one-hour sessions over 6 weeks). Both exercise groups received the same 5 minutes of fatigue management education. Measurements of self-reported fatigue, dizziness and depression, and performance of a computerized, standing upright postural control test and walking capacity test were measured to determine benefits from the interventions. Participants in the Control group did not exercise, however if they chose, received the treatment within the clinical setting upon completion of their participation in the study.

The investigators hypothesized that: 1) participants in the Experimental group would improve significantly in fatigue and balance; 2) improvements found in the Experimental group would be significantly greater than improvements in the Exercise Control group and Control group.

Results: Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

38

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • (1) Clinically definite MS confirmed by a board certified Neurologist
  • (2) Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 0.0 to 6.0 (ranges and corresponding ambulatory status: 0.0 to 4.5 fully ambulatory without assistive device; 5.0 to 5.5 impaired ambulatory status without assistive device; 6.0 impaired ambulatory status with intermittent or unilateral constant assistive device)
  • (3) Age: 18 to 65 years (65 years has been set as the upper limit of age to decrease the possible age-related changes in physical strength, endurance, and upright postural control)
  • (4) Male or Female (MS affects both gender types)
  • (5) Comprehension of the general concept of the study and ability to make informed consent (see Section I. Special Consent Issues). (6) Minorities included
  • (7) Self-reported fatigue level on the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) of a total score > 45 (This criterion has been used in previous studies investigating treatment for MS-related fatigue utilizing the MFIS)
  • (8) Sensory organization test (SOT) composite score of < 72

Exclusion Criteria:

  • (1) Non-ambulatory
  • (2) Utilization of agents to control fatigue: i.e. medications: Amantadine, Pemoline, Dexedrine Amphetamine, Methylphenidate, Provigil, Ritalin, Prokarin.
  • (3) Utilization of medication(s) that have known possible side effects of fatigue such as: skeletal muscle relaxants (i.e. Baclofen, Zanaflex), Statin Drugs, pain medication (i.e. Opioids, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
  • (4) Any other possible cause of fatigue: major sleep disorder, clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder, anemia, hypothyroidism, B12 deficiency, cancer
  • (5) Other neurological disorder which might contribute to significant balance problems, including cerebral vascular accident, peripheral neuropathy (separate from MS diagnosis, such as diabetes mellitus), peripheral vestibular disorders (unilateral/bilateral vestibular hypofunction: benign positional paroxysmal vertigo, Meniere's disease, acoustic neuroma)
  • (6) Change in MS specific medication (for disease modification) in the last three months
  • (7) Documented MS-related exacerbation in the last six months
  • (8) Any medical diagnosis or condition that is considered to be an absolute or relative contraindication to participating in exercise testing and/or result in limitations for participation in an active exercise program or aerobic exercise program, as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
  • (9) Participation in an exercise routine specifically designed as a vestibular and/or aerobic exercise program within eight weeks prior to study participation.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise: Vestibular Rehabilitation
Balance and eye movement training
Other: Exercise: Vestibular Rehabilitation
Balance and eye movement training
Active Comparator: Exercise Control
Bicycle ergometry and stretching
Other: Exercise
Bicycle ergometry and stretching
No Intervention: Wait-listed Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-reported fatigue
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.
10 weeks
Upright postural control
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Sensory Organization Test (SOT)-Posturography. Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.
10 weeks
Walking capacity
Time Frame: 10 weeks
6-minute walk test (6MWT). Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.
10 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-reported dizziness
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.
10 weeks
Self-reported depression
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Beck Depression Inventory - II. Analyses occur at: Baseline; at 10 weeks of follow-up (Baseline to post-intervention; and at 14 weeks of follow-up (post-intervention to post-four week unsupervised follow-up.
10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Collaborators

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Margaret Schenkman, PT, PhD, University of Colorado, Denver

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

January 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 5, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 6, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

October 7, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 29, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 25, 2013

Last Verified

January 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 06-1108
  • PP1501 (Other Grant/Funding Number: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Pilot Research Award)

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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