Kinematic Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (KAIMS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The evaluation of upper limb function in multiple sclerosis using kinematic assessment
IRAS ID
272200
Contact name
Linford Fernandes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects more than a 120,000 people in the United Kingdom and is the commonest neurological condition in young adults. There are different forms of MS, including relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Currently there are several effective treatments for RRMS, but no NICE approved treatment for SPMS. Patients with SPMS experience a gradual progression in disability that affects individual patients differently. A number of clinical scores are used to quantify the disability in individual patients and some of these scores focus on the patients’ lower limb function. In the progressive forms of MS, preservation of upper limb function becomes a more important concern for patients to maintain their quality of life. With the advent of new treatment trials for SPMS, it is important that clinicians and researchers are able to use accurate and quantifiable measures of upper limb function to evaluate any changes with time or response to treatment. The use of motion tracking software provides a unique opportunity to accurately track movements in real time and space and give a tailored assessment of an individual’s function. The overall aim of this study is to use established kinematic assessment tools to explore the extent and progression of upper limb dysfunction in patients with PPMS and SPMS. This aim will be achieved by recruiting a sample of participants with SPMS or PPMS from the local MS population and by using specially designed motion tracking software and equipment we will quantify the physical impairment in these participants. The participants will be followed up, and will attend three sessions over a period of twelve months to monitor any progression in their upper limb dysfunction. This study is a single site study and will be carried out in the clinical setting.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0542
Date of REC Opinion
7 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion