The Effect of Motor Imagery on Balance in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

NCT ID: NCT05615207

Last Updated: 2023-02-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 10 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-11-01

Brief Summary

This study will investigate if the use of motor imagery to practice a balance task is as effective as physically practicing balance tasks as measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in persons with MS. A secondary purpose is to investigate if using a motor imagery balance intervention will limit fatigue typically experienced with physical movement in this population.

Detailed Description

Motor Imagery, where persons practice mental performance of a task without the physical performance of the task has been found to improve many aspects of mobility in persons with MS. Its effect on balance is not known. Traditionally, balance training in persons with MS(pwms) has taken the form of physical performance of balance tasks. Although this is effective, this may increase the fatigue that commonly limits physical exercise in MS.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Motor Imagery on physical performance on balance and fatigue in persons with MS.

Upon a participant's arrival to Dominican University NY, we will:

A) Provide participants with an informed consent, explain the process, and answer questions B) Collect intake data (demographics and subject characteristics - age, gender, ethnicity, EDSS/ Phenotypes, years since diagnosis, MS Impact Scale-29 (MSIS29), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) C) Collect baseline observational measures: Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

The participants will then be randomized into the Standard of Care (physical practice) or the Motor Imagery group. Blocked randomization will be implemented to ensure even comparison between groups. Then each person will receive one on one training based on the item(s) on the BBS with which they had difficulty. For example, if the participant had difficulty with item 13 on the BBS, practicing that item would become part of their intervention. Participants in the Standard of Care group will be instructed on how to physically practice their items. Participants in the Motor Imagery group will be guided through mentally practicing their items.

The interventionist will select the 3 items on the BBS with which the participant struggled the most and provide in person and HEP instructions based on those items. We will instruct the participant to perform 10 minutes of total daily practice of these exercises at home in the mode indicated by their group. The 10 minutes will be divided among multiple exercises if applicable and can be done either all at once or broken up over the course of the day. Participants will receive a logbook with written and/or verbally recorded instructions on how to perform their exercises.

Participants will perform the interventions at home for 10 minutes a day for 2 weeks, and will then return to DUNY after the 2 weeks for post-test data collection.

Conditions

Falls; Motor Imagery; Multiple Sclerosis; Balance; Fatigue

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Standard of Care (physical practice)

Participants will be given a single one on one in person instruction session and a home exercise program corresponding to their assigned group with instructions on physical practice. The Standard of Care / Physical practice will include physically performing movements that closely or entirely mimic elements of the BBS. For example, if a subject struggles with the sit to stand portion of the BBS, they will physically practice sit to stand based on the treating physical therapist's clinical decision of appropriate task parameters and dosage. The individual subject's MS fatigue and their performance of the task will be taken into account when deciding dosage.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Motor Imagery as compared to physical practice for balance tasks

Intervention Type: OTHER

We will investigate if using motor imagery (mentally imagining and practicing a task) as a means of balance training is as effective as physical practice

Motor Imagery

Participants will be given a single one on one in person instruction session and a home exercise program corresponding to their assigned group with instructions on using motor imagery to imagine themselves performing the balance task with which they struggled on the BBS. Motor imagery practice involves having the participant imagine themselves performing elements of the BBS without physically moving. The participants in this group will be guided through 1 session of motor imagery that will be recorded on their person phone for them to use as a home exercise program.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Motor Imagery as compared to physical practice for balance tasks

Intervention Type: OTHER

We will investigate if using motor imagery (mentally imagining and practicing a task) as a means of balance training is as effective as physical practice

Interventions

Motor Imagery as compared to physical practice for balance tasks

We will investigate if using motor imagery (mentally imagining and practicing a task) as a means of balance training is as effective as physical practice

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Confirmed diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
• A non-perfect score on the Berg Balance Scale

Exclusion Criteria

• A perfect score on the Berg Balance Scale
• Current participation in a program focused on improving balance

• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Dominican University New York

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Stefanie DiCarrado

Principle Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Stefanie DiCarrado, DPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Dominican University New York

Locations

Dominican University New York

Orangeburg, New York, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Stefanie DiCarrado, DPT

Role: CONTACT

stefanie.dicarrado@duny.edu

9142131284

Facility Contacts

Stefanie DiCarrado, DPT

Role: primary

stefanie.dicarrado@duny.edu

914-213-1284

Other Identifiers

001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id