In-phase Bilateral Exercises in People With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

February 5, 2024 updated by: Dimitris Sokratous, Cyprus University of Technology

Investigation of In-phase Bilateral Exercise Effects on Corticospinal Plasticity in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: a Registered Report Single-case Concurrent Multiple Baseline Design Across Five Subjects

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is associated with changes of the corticospinal tract integrity, which is quantified by means of corticospinal plasticity. Several factors, such as exercise and interlimb coordination can influence such corticospinal plasticity. Previous work in healthy and in stroke participants showed that the greatest improvement of corticospinal plasticity occurred during in-phase bilateral arm exercises. Here, the investigators propose a concurrent multiple baseline design study which has the advantage to verify the cause-effect inference by the staggered duration through separate baseline phases. The proposed study includes five people with RRMS, who will follow an intervention protocol which includes in-phase bilateral movements of the upper limbs, adapted to different sports activities and to functional training. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of in-phase bilateral exercises on corticospinal plasticity and on clinical measures, using transcranial magnetic stimulation and standardized clinical assessment. To meet quality standards, the present study has been designed and will be conducted according to the "What Works Clearinghouse" criteria for single case studies.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is the most common type of multiple sclerosis characterized by periods of relapses and generating various motor symptoms. These symptoms are associated with the corticospinal tract integrity neuroplasticity. The corticospinal tract is one of the major motor descending pathways providing voluntary motor function in humans. The neuroplasticity of the corticospinal tract, as defined by changes in neuron structure or function detected either directly from measures of individual neurons or inferred from measures taken across populations of neurons, is an essential factor that predicts clinical recovery in the post-relapse stage of people with RRMS. Corticospinal plasticity can be probed using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and characterized via certain TMS-specific neurophysiological measures. Corticospinal plasticity is exercise-dependent and influenced by various factors, such as aerobic exercise, resistance training, as well as interlimb coordination. Previous studies that assessed corticospinal plasticity using TMS in healthy participants and in chronic stroke survivors, reported that interlimb coordination and especially in-phase bilateral movement has the strongest effect on corticospinal plasticity.

Despite the broad literature on the effects of different types of exercises on the neuroplasticity in people with RRMS, it is unclear whether in-phase bilateral exercises can promote motor related neuroplastic changes in RRMS. In light of evidence that people with RRMS have bilateral cortical lesions, which cause bilateral changes of corticospinal tract integrity, these findings raise the question about the effects of in-phase bilateral exercises on corticospinal plasticity. Such effects would provide strong evidence about whether exercise, in particular in-phase bilateral exercise, can influence the corticospinal plasticity in RRMS.

The aim of this concurrent multiple baseline design study is to investigate the effects of in-phase bilateral exercises on corticospinal plasticity and on clinical measures using TMS and standardized clinical assessment, in five people with RRMS. The intervention protocol will last for 12 consecutive weeks (30-60 minutes /session x 3 sessions/week) and include in-phase bilateral movements of the upper limbs, adapted to different sports activities and to functional training.

To define functional relation between the intervention and the results on corticospinal plasticity (i.e., resting motor threshold, motor evoked potential amplitude, latency) and on clinical measures (i.e., balance, gait, bilateral hand dexterity and strength, cognitive function), the investigators will perform a visual analysis followed by multilevel modelling and the single case educational design specific mean difference in order to estimate the magnitude of the effect size across cases.

Visual analysis will conducted first, in order to determine whether there is a functional relationship between the intervention and the outcome measures. During the visual analysis, six features of the research design graphed data will be examined: level, trend, stability, immediacy of the effect, overlap, and consistency. Over the within-phase examination an evaluation of level, trend and stability will be examined. Level will be reported from the mean score of each dependent variable and trend will determine whether the data points are monotonically decreased or increased. Stability will be estimated based on the percentage of data points falling within 15% of the phase median, if this is higher than 80% then we assume that this criterion is met. Additionally, over the between-phase examination an evaluation of overlapping data among baseline and intervention phases, consistency of data patterns and immediacy of effect will be performed. The Percentage of Non-overlapping Data index will be used to quantify the proportion of data points in the intervention phase that do not overlap with the baseline phase and the test statistic will be calculated using the Improvement Rate Difference as an effect size index. Immediacy of the effect will be examined by comparing changes in level between the last three data points of one phase and the three first data points of the next phase. Furthermore, consistency of data patterns involves the observation of the data from all phases within the same condition, with greater consistency expressing greater causal relation. Each feature will be assessed individually and collectively across to all participants and to all phases. Consequently, if the intervention protocol is the sole determinant of improvement, the investigators expect to find indicators of improvement only at the intervention phase.

Secondly, a quantitative analysis methods will conducted so to evaluate the magnitude of the intervention effect, provided there is evidence from the visual analysis. The investigators will perform all neurophysiological and clinical assessments to each participant according to the number of data points during each phase (i.e., baseline, intervention, follow up). In order to estimate the individual-level effect sizes, three different methods will be used, as suggested by 'What Works Clearinghouse', the standardized mean difference (Cohen's d), the standardized mean difference with correction for small sample sizes (Hedges' g) and piecewise regression analysis which does not only reflect the immediate intervention effect, but also the intervention effect across time. Multilevel modelling, which is recommended by the 'What Works Clearinghouse' and the single case educational design, specific mean difference index will be used to estimate the magnitude of the effect across cases and compared to the effect obtained by the single level estimates. All tests will be two sided. Statistical analysis will be performed using the statistical software R (https://www.r-project.org/).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

5

Phase

  • 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

  • Cyprus
      • Limassol, Cyprus
        • Dimitris Sokratous

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

30 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
  • Expanded Disability Status Scale score between three and five
  • Aged between 30 and 70 years
  • Relapse within 30 days
  • Mini Mental State of Examination score between 24 and 30 (no cognitive impairment)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Metal implants
  • History of any disease affecting the central nervous system other than multiple sclerosis
  • History of cardiovascular disease
  • Mental disorders
  • Severe orthopedic disorders
  • Pregnancy
  • Visual deficit
  • Hearing impairments,
  • Εpileptic seizures
  • Spasticity level on upper or lower limbs more than 1+ (slight increase in muscle tone) according to Modified Ashworth Scale

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: In-phase bilateral RRMS Participants A-E
The study follows a concurrent multiple baseline design across subjects, which involves five people with RRMS as five different case studies.
Behavioral: In-phase Bilateral Exercises of the upper limbs

The intervention protocol consists of in-phase bilateral exercises for the upper limbs, which are adapted to different sport activities and to fitness functional exercises, organized in a circuit training. Specifically, each session will consist of 1-3 sets, consisting of 10-15 repetitions of 9 different exercises targeting large muscle groups of the upper limbs.

The specific exercises will include sports activities of basic technical skills of basketball (e.g., different types of passing, catching and throwing the ball) and volleyball (e.g., different types of passing and receiving the ball), whereas the fitness exercises will include shoulder rows, shoulder lateral raises, elbow flexions, elbow extensions, using resistance elastic bands, as well as exercises with the patients' own body weight (e.g., pushups, TRX).

The intervention phase for each participant will consist of 12 consecutive weeks, for 3 times per week, 30-60 minutes each session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Corticospinal Plasticity
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
The investigators will assess the corticospinal plasticity using single pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Following TMS recommended guidelines concerning safety and experimental conditions, bilateral cortical excitability and bilateral central motor conduction time (CMCT) will be assessed. Using electromyography (EMG) signals, the investigators will analyze bilateral cortical excitability and bilateral CMCT to determine corticospinal plasticity. The resting motor threshold (rMT) and the Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) amplitude of Abductor Pollicis Brevis muscle will define cortical excitability, while the MEP latency will be used to calculate the CMCT. To ensure methodological consistency, the investigators will collect all data by performing the same methodological procedures for both conditions (i.e., cortical excitability and CMCT) bilaterally (one side per assessment), across participants and across all time points.
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
It measures dynamic balance, functional mobility, and gait in neurological patients, including people with multiple sclerosis. The specific test consists of 14 items, including four of the six segments (anticipatory postural adjustments, sensory orientation, reactive postural control and dynamic gait) from the Balance Evaluation Systems Test.
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
Six Spot Step Test
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
It is a timed walking test that involves kicking over a number of targets placed along a 5m-path in which rely to some extent on vision and cognition. The Six Spot Step Test is measured in the time domain replicating a complex range of sensorimotor functions, part of which are lower limb strength, spasticity, coordination, as well as balance
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
Action Research Arm Test
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
It is a 19-item observational measure used by physiotherapists and other health care professionals to examine upper limb performance (i.e., coordination, dexterity and functioning). Items covering the Action Research Arm Test are categorized into four subscales (grasp, grip, pinch and gross movement).
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
Isometric Dynamometer
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
We well assess the isometric muscle force of major muscle groups with the use of a hand held dynamometer, which is used in the evaluation and rehabilitation of muscle strength. Shoulder flexors, extensors, rotators, horizontal adductors and abductors adductors and abductors, elbow flexors and extensors are the major muscle groups which will be evaluated.
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
Symbol Digit Modalities Test
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
We will employ the oral form which assesses the information processing speed. During the test, the participant will be given two minutes to orally match symbols with digits as quickly as possible.
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average 35 weeks
It is a short questionnaire which requires the participants to describe the effects of fatigue during the past four weeks
Through study completion, an average 35 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Cyprus University of Technology

Collaborators

The Cyprus Foundation for Muscular Dystrophy Research

Investigators

  • Study Director: Dimitris Sokratous, MS, Cyprus University of Technology

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 (Actual)

March 10, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 6, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

October 13, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 27, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 5, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

May 10, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

February 7, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 5, 2024

Last Verified

February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IBEMS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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