Feasibility of Progressive Resistance Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Feasibility Study of Progressive Resistance Exercise in Fatigued People with Multiple Sclerosis.
IRAS ID
199348
Contact name
John M Saxton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumbria University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 10 days
Research summary
Approximately 75% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) experience fatigue, which is reported as persistent and disabling for over half of all patients. MS fatigue is often defined as “a subjective lack of physical and/or mental energy that interferes with usual and desired activities”. MS fatigue is associated with reduced mental alertness, cognitive processing, daily functionality, decrease in quality of life, and is the main cause of inability to work, resulting in high economic burden. The mechanisms of MS fatigue remain poorly understood but it is known that fatigued people with MS recruit more areas in the brain when asked to perform a simple motor task than non-fatigued people with MS. This may result in a higher energy demand in certain brain areas and increase in fatigue perception. Moreover, fatigued people with MS have been shown to have weaker muscles. Exercise therapy is a safe, non-pharmacological treatment strategy with many health benefits, including improvements in muscle power, physical and psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Progressive resistance exercise (PRE) has been shown to improve brain to muscle communication and form new brain connections during motor tasks, and could have a significant impact on MS fatigue. We aim to investigate if a program of supported (supervised and home-based) progressive resistance exercise is feasible in people experiencing high levels of multiple sclerosis. Secondly, whether the intervention show promise of being successful with the intended population, in terms of indicative changes in key health outcomes. This study is a single-centre feasibility randomised controlled trial designed as a parallel, two-arm trial. We aim to recruit 40 participants over a period of 12 months from one centre (the Neurology Department at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) NHS Foundation Trust). The PRE intervention group will consist of 12 weeks supervised PRE and 12-weeks of home-based exercise, performed twice-weekly. The control group will remain in usual care. A variety of patient related data will be collected at baseline; 12 weeks after PRE intervention and at 24 weeks follow up.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
16/SS/0142
Date of REC Opinion
8 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion