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Multiple SclerosisEXOSEPNCT06702137

EXOPULSE Mollii Suit, Motor Function & Multiple Sclerosis

A study testing EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (active) in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Institut De La Colonne Vertebrale Et Des Neurosciences at 1 site in France.

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

Spasticity is a frequent and debilitating symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It can alter the patients' balance, mobility, as well as their quality of life. The available therapeutic strategies for treating spasticity and related symptoms are usually faced with limited efficacy and numerous side… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Multiple Sclerosis
What is being tested?
EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (active)
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
34 participants
Where
1 siteFrance
Study dates
1 Jun 2022to 14 May 2024
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 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Definite MS diagnosis according to the 2017 McDonald criteria since at least one month.
  • Age between 18 and 75 years.
  • Ability to walk freely or with the need of support (expanded disability status scale score (EDSS) < 7).
  • Being free of relapses in the last three months.
  • Being French speaker, able to understand verbal instructions, and affiliated to the national health insurance (sécurité sociale).
  • Having spasticity with a score of at least 1+ on the MAS.
  • Having a BBS score ≤46 associated in the literature with a risk of fall

Who cannot join

  • Being included in another research protocol during the study period.
  • Inability to undergo medical monitoring for the study purposes due to geographical or social reasons.
  • Having a cardiac stimulator, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, an intrathecal baclofen pump or other contraindications to using EXOPULSE Mollii suit.
  • Being pregnant.
  • Having a change in their pharmacological therapy in the last three months.
  • Suffering from other somatic or neuropsychiatric diagnoses (e.g., arrhythmias, uncontrolled epilepsy, diseases causing osteoarticular and muscular pain).
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  • Having a body mass index above 35 Kg/m2.
  • In case of the introduction of a medical device other than EXOPULSE Mollii suit during the study period
  • Patients under juridical protection (" mesure de protection judiciare : tutelle, curatelle, sauvegarde de justice ")
  • Prisoners.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

France1 site
  • Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Henri Mondor Hospital

    Créteil, VAL DE MARNE, 94000

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: The Effects of EXOPULSE Mollii Suit on Motor Functions in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (EXOSEP Study)

Spasticity is a frequent and debilitating symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It can alter the patients' balance, mobility, as well as their quality of life. The available therapeutic strategies for treating spasticity and related symptoms are usually faced with limited efficacy and numerous side effects.

For these reasons, non invasive stimulation techniques, namely transcutaneous stimulation by means of EXOPULSE Mollii suit, might be of help in this context.

Read the detailed description

The investigators designed a randomized crossover, sham-controlled, double blind trial to demonstrate the improvement of motor functions and MS related symptoms following a single session of "active" versus "sham" EXOPULSE Mollii suit. A 2-week washout period should be enough to prevent a potential carry over effect. Two weeks after the end of this phase (phase 1), a second phase of this trial, an open label phase, will be proposed for all patients to understand the effects of EXOPULSE Mollii suit employed over four weeks (a session every other day for a total of 14 sessions) on MS related symptoms.

Being tested
EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (active), EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (sham)
Keywords
Spasticity, Motor Functions, Quality of life
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis, Muscle Spasticity

What participants receive

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

  • EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (active)Device

    This study aims to evaluate the effects of the EXOPULSE Mollii suit, a non-invasive assistive device that delivers transcutaneous electrostimulation. The suit includes a CE-labeled class IIa control unit and class I body garments. Equipped with 58 electrodes, the full-body suit stimulates various muscle groups to reduce spasticity by activating antagonistic muscles through reciprocal inhibition, rather than causing muscle contractions. Designed to relax spastic muscles, improve range of motion, prevent atrophy, enhance circulation, and provide pain relief, the device is easy to use, requiring only one hour of daily wear, with effects lasting over 24 hours.

    Current treatments for spasticity, such as botulinum toxin and oral medications, have limitations like side effects and minimal mobility improvement. The EXOPULSE Mollii suit offers an innovative alternative, with early studies indicating positive impacts on mobility and motor function.

  • EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (sham)Device

    In the sham condition, the control unit will be programmed to start stimulating for 1 minute then it will shut off.

Study groups in NCT06702137
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental ConditionActive comparatorActive sessions will last 1 hour each. The following parameters will be used for electric stimulation: low frequency (20 Hz), low current intensity (2 mA), with a small pulse width of 25-170 microseconds. These parameters were previously found to be safe in human studies. Based on the clinical exam of each patient, the spastic muscles will be targeted. EXOPULSE Mollii Suit is used for the activation of weak muscles or relaxation of spastic muscles mediated by a physiological reflex mechanism referred to as reciprocal inhibition. By sending an electrical signal to an antagonistic muscle, the spastic muscle will subsequently relax.
Receives: Device: EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (active)
Control ConditionSham comparatorIn the control condition, the patients will receive a sham stimulation, for which the control unit will be programmed to start stimulating for 1 minute then it will shut off. There is no risk related to the sham intervention since it consists of applying the same parameters used for the active session (low frequency: 20 Hz; current intensity: 2 mA; pulse width ranging from 25 to 170 µs) but for a shorter duration of time (1 minute instead of 1 hour).
Receives: Device: EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (sham)

What is being measured

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

  1. Improvement in balance using the BBS (Berg Balance Scale) )

    Balance will be assessed using the 14-item Berg Balance Scale (BBS) which has good psychometric properties in PwMS (concurrent validity, interrater reliability). The scale rates the balance using 56 points, with higher scores indicating better balance abilities. A score equal to or below 45 is commonly associated with the risk of falls across the literature.

    Measured: BBS will be evaluated at Day 1 (before & after the intervention, phase 1) and at Day 15 (before & after the intervention, phase 1)

Secondary outcomes (11)
  1. Assessment of the cumulative effects of EXOPULSE Mollii suit on balance using the BBS (Berg Balance Scale) after 4 weeks of using Exopulse Molii Suit

    BBS has good psychometric properties in PwMS (concurrent validity, interrater reliability). The scale rates the balance using 56 points, with higher scores indicating better balance abilities. A score equal to or below 45 is commonly associated with fall risk across the literature.

    Measured: BBS evaluation will occur at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  2. Assessment of the spasticity using the MAS (Modified Ashworth Scale)

    Spasticity will be evaluated by examiners using the MAS (Modified Ashworth Scale)

    Measured: Spasticity according to MAS will be assessed through study completion at Day 1 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 15 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  3. Assessment of the spasticity using the VAS spasticity (Visual Analogue Scale)

    Spasticity will be evaluated by patients using a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale)

    Measured: VAS spasicity will be assessed through study completion at Day 1 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 15 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  4. Mobility will be assessed using the TUG (Time Up and Go)

    The TUG is a validated test that assesses walking in PwMS (Bennett et al., 2017). The score is expressed as the time (in seconds) required to perform sequential motor tasks (standing up from the chair, walking to the line on the floor at a normal pace, turning, walking back to the chair at a normal pace, and finally sitting down).

    Measured: Mobility according to TUG will be assessed through study completion at Day 1 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 15 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  5. Mobility will be assessed using the FES-I (Falls Efficacy Scale-International scale)

    Subjective risk of fall will be assessed using the French version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International scale (FES-I) ; a 14-item scale that assesses the perceived risk of falling.

    Measured: FES-I will be assessed at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  6. Mobility will be assessed using the MSWS-12 (Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale - 12)

    Subjective changes in walking would be evaluated by the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale - 12 (MSWS-12), a 12-item scale that examines the impact of MS on walking capacity, is a validated patient-reported measure for exploring this outcome.

    Measured: MSWS-12 will be assessed at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  7. Quality of life will be measured using the MusiQoL (Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire)

    This variable will be measured using the 31-item Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL), which has good psychometric properties and yields a total score and subscores for nine dimensions: activity of daily living, psychological well-being, symptoms, friends' relationships, family relationships, satisfaction with health care, sentimental and sexual life, coping and rejection.

    Measured: MusiQOL will be assessed at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  8. Pain will be assessed using a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale)

    VAS is a 10 mm straight horizontal line with one end meaning no pain and the other end meaning the worst pain imaginable

    Measured: Pain according to VAS will be assessed through study completion at Day 1 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 15 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  9. Fatigue will be assessed using a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale)

    VAS is a 10 mm straight horizontal line with one end meaning no fatigue and the other end meaning extreme fatigue

    Measured: Fatigue according to VAS be assessed through study completion at Day 1 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 15 (before and after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 30 (before phase 2) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  10. Evaluation of overall improvement using the CGI (Clinical Global Impression)

    It consists of 7-point scale ranging from "very much improved since the initiation of treatment" to "very much worse since the initiation of treatment" (from 1 to 7)

    Measured: CGI will be assessed at Day 1 (after the intervention, phase 1), at Day 15 (after the intervention, phase 1) and at Day 60 (at the end of phase 2)

  11. Evaluation of patient's blinding to the type of stimulation in the crossover trial

    This blind evaluation will be done in phase 1 using a dedicated questionnaire (only for each treatment condition, since all patients will receive the same active treatment in open phase 2).

    Measured: Blinding wil be assessed at Day 1 (after the intervention) and at Day 15 (after the intervention) during Phase 1.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted22 Nov 2024
  2. Study start1 Jun 2022
  3. Primary completion2 Apr 2024
  4. Study completion14 May 2024

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
Crossover
Model description
It is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, and cross-over study. Phase 1 is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, and cross-over study. In this phase, each participant will be randomly assigned to receive one session of active stimulation and one session of sham stimulation using the EXOPULSE Mollii suit (phase 1). The crossover design is appropriate for assessing symptomatic treatment of this chronic and relatively stable disease. Furthermore, the sessions will be separated by a wash-out interval of two weeks. Thus, a 2-week washout period should be enough to prevent a potential carry-over effect. At the end of phase 1 (two weeks after the second session of active or sham), an open-label phase (phase 2) will be proposed for all patients and will consist of 4 weeks of active stimulation (every other day stimulations for a total of 14 sessions). In total, each participant will be included in the study for 8 weeks (4 weeks for phase 1 and 4 weeks for phase 2).
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
34 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06702137
Sponsor's protocol ID
2022-A00231-42
Acronym
EXOSEP
Status last verified
Feb 2025
First submitted
2 Nov 2024
Last updated
18 Jun 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Ayache SS, Mattar JG, Creange A, Abdellaoui M, Zedet M, Lefaucheur JP, Megherbi H, Khaled H, Abi Lahoud GN, Chalah MA. The effect of the EXOPULSE Mollii suit on motor functions in patients with multiple sclerosis - a randomized sham-controlled crossover trial. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2025 Jun 19;11(2):20552173251348304. doi: 10.1177/20552173251348304. eCollection 2025 Apr-Jun.

    PubMed 40547078

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing EXOPULSE MOLLII SUIT (active) in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Institut De La Colonne Vertebrale Et Des Neurosciences at 1 site in France.

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 7 inclusion and 10 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 18 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in France. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Improvement in balance using the BBS (Berg Balance Scale) ) (time frame: BBS will be evaluated at Day 1 (before & after the intervention, phase 1) and at Day 15 (before & after the intervention, phase 1)). 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 NCT06702137, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 18 Jun 2025.

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