Influence of Cognitive Function Software Therapy on the Improvement of Manual Skills in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system leading to the impairment of motor, visual and cognitive functions. A standardized rehabilitation of cognitive functions can be provided by a systematized treatment program devised to improve neurological patients' quality of life. The degree of difficulty of the computerized tasks was adapted to a patient's predispositions and modified once a desirable improvement in the practiced skill has reached.

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of cognitive therapy by means of the cognitive software on manual dexterity in patients with multiple sclerosis. We also attempted to establish whether factors like age, sex and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores contribute to the outcomes of that therapy. All patients enrolled will have a documented history of MS disease prior to study enrollment. The EDSS scores varied between 1.5-4 (mean score 2.1). The Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), administered to all of the patients, was used to evaluate the subjects' manual dexterity. Having been administered the NHPT test the initial 86-patient group was reduced to a cohort of 40 subjects qualified for the study, who were subsequently randomly divided into two groups - the study and the control - each consisting of 20 subjects. Three times a week the study group received the upper limb treatment by means of the cognitive function platform. They were expected to achieve 96 levels of visuo-motor coordination in 3 months or the treatment was to be terminated. After completing each task the patient would move on to a higher level of difficulty. Failure meant having to redo that particular task. One training session lasted 20 min., after which the patient could take a break.

Having completed the training each patient was administered the NHPT test again in view of assessing the efficiency of their upper limb. Due to progressive deterioration of health and other factors only 10 patients managed to complete the training.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Reh1,Reh2

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 86
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Unii Lubelskiej
    • Szczecin, Unii Lubelskiej, Poland, 71-228
      • Departmen of Neurology

Participation Criteria

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:

MS clinically diagnosed based on McDonald's criteria of 2011 The EDSS between 1.5-4; relapsing-remitting form MS;

exclusio criteria Mental disorders, alcoholism, severe vision disorders including diplopia coinciding upper limb therapy

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Grup1, Grup2	Behavioral: Reh1,Reh2; The initial group comprised 86 subjects including. The Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), administered to all of the patients, was used to evaluate the subjects' manual dexterity. The standardized scale enabled obtaining scores of high validity (right: r= 0.984, left: r = 0.993). Having been administered the NHPT test the initial 86-patient group was reduced to a cohort of 40 subjects qualified for the study, who were subsequently randomly divided into two groups - the study and the control - each consisting of 20 subjects. Three times a week the study group received the upper limb treatment by means of the cognitive function platform. They were expected to achieve 96 levels of visuo-motor coordination in 3 months or the treatment was to be terminated. Prior to the first session of the treatment the patients were provided with all relevant instructions and information about the test displayed on the monitor. They could also choose which hand they would start with.
Experimental: Grup1,Grup2	Behavioral: Reh1,Reh2; The initial group comprised 86 subjects including. The Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), administered to all of the patients, was used to evaluate the subjects' manual dexterity. The standardized scale enabled obtaining scores of high validity (right: r= 0.984, left: r = 0.993). Having been administered the NHPT test the initial 86-patient group was reduced to a cohort of 40 subjects qualified for the study, who were subsequently randomly divided into two groups - the study and the control - each consisting of 20 subjects. Three times a week the study group received the upper limb treatment by means of the cognitive function platform. They were expected to achieve 96 levels of visuo-motor coordination in 3 months or the treatment was to be terminated. Prior to the first session of the treatment the patients were provided with all relevant instructions and information about the test displayed on the monitor. They could also choose which hand they would start with.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hand therapy using cognitive functions in patients with MS	Three times a week the study group received the upper limb treatment by means of the cognitive function platform. They were expected to achieve 96 levels of visuo-motor coordination in 3 months or the treatment was to be terminated. After completing each task the patient would move on to a higher level of difficulty. Failure meant having to redo that particular task. One training session lasted 20 min., after which the patient could take a break.	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pomeranian Medical University Szczecin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 13, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 20, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 1, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): October 2, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 2, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 1, 2018
• Last Verified: October 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: manual therapy; multiple sclerosis; rehabilitation; motor cortex; neuroplasticity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: PomeranianMU2018

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No