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

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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 Contact

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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

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

Hacettepe University

Investigators

  • 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)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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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