Home Based Functional Balance Intervention for Multiple Sclerosis

Study Summary

The study involves a two-arm, Phase 1, randomized controlled clinical trial designed to establish the feasibility and effects of a Functional Balance Intervention (FBI) on physical and cognitive function, as well as measures of daily living among persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Combined Specific Aims: Aim 1: Examine the effect of the FBI (Intervention Group) on physical function in PwMS compared to a stretching program (Control Group). Hypothesis 1: After four months of training, the FBI group will show significantly greater improvements in physical function compared to the stretching group. Aim 2: Examine the effect of the multicomponent FBI on cognitive function in PwMS compared to the stretching program. Hypothesis 2: After four months of training, the FBI group will show significantly greater improvements in cognitive function compared to the stretching group. Aim 3: Examine the effects of the multicomponent FBI compared to the Control Group among PwMS on measures of daily living (dual-task performance, balance confidence, community mobility, and quality of life). Hypothesis 3: After four months of training, the FBI group will show significantly greater improvements in measures of daily living compared to the stretching group. All assessment sessions will be conducted virtually via Zoom. All measures collected during the initial screening, pre-training assessment, training progression, and mid- and post-training assessment sessions will be administered either via Zoom with a Helper Buddy present or through survey links sent to participants via the UIC REDCap system. The training sessions will be performed independently by the participants in the presence of a Helper Buddy. The investigators will recruit 75 people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) for this study. Eligible participants will be randomized to either the FBI (Intervention) or stretching (Control) group, followed by an onboarding session with a designated Helper Buddy. Training will occu

Primary Outcome

Non-serious adverse events may include transient muscle soreness, fatigue, mild dizziness, temporary loss of balance corrected by the helper buddy, or minor joint discomfort during home exercise. These events do not require medical intervention and are reported during weekly check ins or directly to study staff. Serious adverse events include any event resulting in injury requiring medical care, hospitalization, life-threatening symptoms, severe cardiovascular responses (chest pain, uncontrolle

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Stretching
• BEHAVIORAL Multicomponent balance intervention consisting of four components including dual-tasking, functional strength, vestibular and dynamic balance.

Study Locations (1)