Promotion of Exercise Through Physical Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · Apr 10, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how physical therapy can help people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) become more active. Exercise is known to help manage symptoms like fatigue, but many individuals with MS struggle to stay active enough to benefit from it. The trial will test a program where physical therapists provide guidance to help participants increase their physical activity in a way that could be maintained in everyday life.

To be part of this study, participants need to be at least 18 years old, diagnosed with MS, and not have had a relapse in the last 30 days. They should also be able to read and speak English well enough to follow along and participate in the sessions. Participants must have a smartphone and currently do not meet the recommended activity levels. Those who join can expect to attend regular physical therapy sessions and study visits, where they’ll receive support to help them become more active. This study is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to find out if this approach can effectively encourage physical activity among people living with MS.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Clinical diagnosis of MS
• • 18 years and older
• • Able to read and speak English sufficiently to allow for informed consent and active participation in the intervention sessions
• • Relapse free for the past 30 days
• • Willingness to attend all study visits and PT sessions for the duration of study
• • Access to a smartphone
• • Not sufficiently active as measured by the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire score \<24
• • Patient Determined Disease Steps score 0-3 or the ability to ambulate either independently or with the use of a cane (or similar device) for at least 75% of the time at baseline
• • Less than 2 affirmative on the physical activity readiness questionnaire
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., cognitive impairment, unable to sufficiently communicate in English)
• • Unable to attend study visits
• • Any impairment, activity, behavior, or situation that in the judgment of the study team would prevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol.