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Multiple SclerosisNCT02688231

Task-oriented Upper Limb Training in MS

A study testing Task-oriented upper limb training in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Hasselt University at 2 sites in Belgium.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

An adequate upper limb function is crucial to independently perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Persons with neurological diseases often experience upper limb dysfunction. Upper limb function in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is highly prevalent, increasing with overall disability level, while the detrimental impact on… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 90 years
Conditions the study is for
Multiple Sclerosis
What is being tested?
Task-oriented upper limb training
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
21 participants
Where
2 sitesBelgium
Study dates
Jan 2016to Mar 2018
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 90 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age > 18 years
  • Diagnosis of MS (McDonald criteria)
  • Progressive type of MS (primary or secondary progressive MS)
  • A score 1 or more on the performance scale: item hand function

Who cannot join

  • A relapse or relapse-related treatment within the last 3 months prior to the study
  • Complete paralysis of both upper limbs
  • Marked or severe intention tremor (Fahn's tremor rating scale > 3)
  • Other medical conditions interfering with the upper limb function (ortopaedic or rheumatoid impairment)
  • Severe cognitive or visual deficits interfering with testing and training

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Belgium2 sites
  • Hasselt University

    Diepenbeek, 3560

  • Revalidatie en MS centrum

    Overpelt, Limburg, 3900

Other trials in Belgium

About this study

Official title: Intensity Dependent Clinical Effects of a Task-oriented Upper Limb Training in Multiple Sclerosis

An adequate upper limb function is crucial to independently perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Persons with neurological diseases often experience upper limb dysfunction. Upper limb function in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is highly prevalent, increasing with overall disability level, while the detrimental impact on ADL is higher than in stroke, given that symptoms often occur bilaterally. In contrast to stroke, it is unknown whether similar rehabilitation principles and effect sizes apply in MS given that this progressive neurodegenerative disease is characterized by multiple lesions and atrophy of brain structures. To date, optimal therapy dosage of upper limb rehabilitation programs are not known in the MS literature neither were characteristics of responders identified.

The aim of this explorative study is to investigate the intensity dependent clinical effects of a task-oriented upper limb training in persons with MS with different upper limb disability levels.

Being tested
Task-oriented upper limb training, Control intervention
Keywords
Multiple Sclerosis, Upper limb rehabilitation
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Task-oriented upper limb trainingOther

    Participants in the experimental groups (high-intensity and low-intensity) receive for 8 weeks, 60 min/day, 5 days/week a task-oriented upper limb rehabilitation training at a high or low intensity, respectively, instead of their regular occupational therapy hours provided in the conventional multidisciplinary rehabilitation program.

    The task-oriented training involves practicing of functional daily tasks, with the intention to acquire or reacquire a skill. Most functional upper limb tasks require following essential movement components: reaching, moving, positioning, transporting, lifting the upper limb and/or an object and grasping, releasing, stabilizing, manipulating an object.

    The Tagtrainer of SymbioTherapy is used to support the independent training of tasks with real objects with different sizes and weights. The Diego of Tyromotion is used in patients who require assistance (gravity support) during the performance of different upper limb tasks.

  • Control interventionOther

    The participants in the control group receive for 8 weeks the conventional multidisciplinary rehabilitation program (physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech or cognitive therapy if needed).

    The training sessions are scheduled for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for the duration of 8 weeks.

Study groups in NCT02688231
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
High intensity groupExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Task-oriented upper limb training
Low intensity groupExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Task-oriented upper limb training
Control group - conventional treatmentActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Other: Control intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Nine Hole peg test

    Manual dexterity

    Measured: 8 weeks

  2. Manual Ability Measure-36

    Questionnaire about perceived ADL performance

    Measured: 8 weeks

  3. Isometric hand grip

    Isometric hand grip

    Measured: 8 weeks

  4. Training tolerance

    Questionnaire of training tolerance and possible adverse effects

    Measured: daily through study compeletion

  5. pinch grip strength

    pinch grip strength

    Measured: 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Motricity Index

    General isometric muscle strength

    Measured: 8 weeks

  2. Muscle fatigue indices

    Indices calculated based on a 30 seconds sustained maximal isometric hand grip contraction

    Measured: 8 weeks

  3. Tactile sensitivity in the fingers Semmens-Weinstein monofilaments

    Tactile sensitivity in the thumb and index

    Measured: 8 weeks

  4. Rydel Seiffer Tuning fork

    Vibration in the upper limb

    Measured: 8 weeks

  5. Symbol digit modalities test

    Cognitive function, processing speed

    Measured: 8 weeks

  6. Box and block test

    Manual dexterity

    Measured: 8 weeks

  7. Action Research Arm Test

    Proximal and distal upper limb function

    Measured: 8 weeks

  8. Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs des Personnes Âgées (TEMPA)

    Proximal and distal upper limb function

    Measured: 8 weeks

  9. Virtual Peg Insertion Test

    manual dexterity

    Measured: 8 weeks

  10. Accelerometers (Actigraph)

    actual upper limb performance in daily life

    Measured: 8 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Feb 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 2016
  3. Primary completionMar 2018
  4. Study completionMar 2018

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
21 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02688231
Sponsor's protocol ID
S58587
Status last verified
May 2019
First submitted
9 Feb 2016
Last updated
6 May 2019
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Lamers I, Maris A, Severijns D, Dielkens W, Geurts S, Van Wijmeersch B, Feys P. Upper Limb Rehabilitation in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2016 Sep;30(8):773-93. doi: 10.1177/1545968315624785. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

    PubMed 26747125
  • Severijns D, Octavia JR, Kerkhofs L, Coninx K, Lamers I, Feys P. Investigation of Fatigability during Repetitive Robot-Mediated Arm Training in People with Multiple Sclerosis. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 27;10(7):e0133729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133729. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 26213990
  • Feys P, Coninx K, Kerkhofs L, De Weyer T, Truyens V, Maris A, Lamers I. Robot-supported upper limb training in a virtual learning environment : a pilot randomized controlled trial in persons with MS. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2015 Jul 23;12:60. doi: 10.1186/s12984-015-0043-3.

    PubMed 26202325
  • Alt Murphy M, Resteghini C, Feys P, Lamers I. An overview of systematic reviews on upper extremity outcome measures after stroke. BMC Neurol. 2015 Mar 11;15:29. doi: 10.1186/s12883-015-0292-6.

    PubMed 25880033
  • Bertoni R, Lamers I, Chen CC, Feys P, Cattaneo D. Unilateral and bilateral upper limb dysfunction at body functions, activity and participation levels in people with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2015 Oct;21(12):1566-74. doi: 10.1177/1352458514567553. Epub 2015 Feb 6.

    PubMed 25662346
  • Severijns D, Lamers I, Kerkhofs L, Feys P. Hand grip fatigability in persons with multiple sclerosis according to hand dominance and disease progression. J Rehabil Med. 2015 Feb;47(2):154-60. doi: 10.2340/16501977-1897.

    PubMed 25268997
  • Lamers I, Cattaneo D, Chen CC, Bertoni R, Van Wijmeersch B, Feys P. Associations of upper limb disability measures on different levels of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in people with multiple sclerosis. Phys Ther. 2015 Jan;95(1):65-75. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20130588. Epub 2014 Sep 4.

    PubMed 25190063
  • Lamers I, Feys P. Assessing upper limb function in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2014 Jun;20(7):775-84. doi: 10.1177/1352458514525677. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

    PubMed 24664300
  • Lamers I, Kelchtermans S, Baert I, Feys P. Upper limb assessment in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of outcome measures and their psychometric properties. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Jun;95(6):1184-200. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.02.023. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

    PubMed 24631802
  • Lambercy O, Fluet MC, Lamers I, Kerkhofs L, Feys P, Gassert R. Assessment of upper limb motor function in patients with multiple sclerosis using the Virtual Peg Insertion Test: a pilot study. IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot. 2013 Jun;2013:6650494. doi: 10.1109/ICORR.2013.6650494.

    PubMed 24187309
  • Lamers I, Timmermans AA, Kerkhofs L, Severijns D, Van Wijmeersch B, Feys P. Self-reported use of the upper limbs related to clinical tests in persons with multiple sclerosis. Disabil Rehabil. 2013;35(23):2016-20. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2013.771703. Epub 2013 Apr 29.

    PubMed 23627537
  • Lamers I, Kerkhofs L, Raats J, Kos D, Van Wijmeersch B, Feys P. Perceived and actual arm performance in multiple sclerosis: relationship with clinical tests according to hand dominance. Mult Scler. 2013 Sep;19(10):1341-8. doi: 10.1177/1352458513475832. Epub 2013 Feb 13.

    PubMed 23407701
  • van den Hoogen W, Feys P, Lamers I, Coninx K, Notelaers S, Kerkhofs L, Ijsselsteijn W. Visualizing the third dimension in virtual training environments for neurologically impaired persons: beneficial or disruptive? J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2012 Oct 5;9:73. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-9-73.

    PubMed 23036010
  • Broekmans T, Gijbels D, Eijnde BO, Alders G, Lamers I, Roelants M, Feys P. The relationship between upper leg muscle strength and walking capacity in persons with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2013 Jan;19(1):112-9. doi: 10.1177/1352458512444497. Epub 2012 May 4.

    PubMed 22562952
  • Gijbels D, Lamers I, Kerkhofs L, Alders G, Knippenberg E, Feys P. The Armeo Spring as training tool to improve upper limb functionality in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2011 Jan 24;8:5. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-8-5.

    PubMed 21261965

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Task-oriented upper limb training in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Hasselt University at 2 sites in Belgium.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 May 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Nine Hole peg test (time frame: 8 weeks). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02688231, which also lists 16 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 May 2019.

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Task-oriented Upper Limb Training in MS (NCT02688231) | AzTrials