Multiple SclerosisMSNCT07504120
The Effect of Remotely Delivered Pilates on Physical , and Psychological Outcomes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis
A study testing Pilates in people with Multiple Sclerosis and Pilates Exercise, run by University of Illinois at Chicago at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Objectives Objective 1: To determine the effects of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Multiple Sclerosis, Pilates Exercise, Walking
- What is being tested?
- Pilates
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2025to 1 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older
- Self-reported diagnosis of multiple sclerosis by a neurologist
- Relapse-free for the past 30 days before screening
- Able to speak and read English as the primary language
- Access to the internet and e-mail,
- Ability to use Zoom, and willingness to complete testing sessions and questionnaires
Show all 11Show fewer
- Ambulatory without an assistive device (for example, cane)
- Low to moderate disability, defined as a score of 0-4 on the Patient-Determined Disease Steps (PDDS)
- Insufficiently active, defined as a score < 14 on the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire-Health Contribution Score (GLTEQ-HCS)
- Adequate visual ability and literacy to read materials printed in 14-point font
- Currently treated with a disease-modifying therapy
Who cannot join
- Pregnant
- Elevated risk for strenuous or maximal exercise, defined as more than one "Yes" response on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) during screening
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60612
Parisa Najafi, PhD, 7735055923, pems@uic.edu
About this study
Official title: Does Remotely Delivered Pilates Influence Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis?
Objectives Objective 1: To determine the effects of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Objective 2: To examine the impact of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Read more
Aim Aim 1: To assess whether the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention significantly improves walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS Aim 2: To investigate whether the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention significantly improves depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Hypothesis Hypothesis 1: The 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention will significantly improve walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Hypothesis 2: Participants receiving the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention will demonstrate significantly greater improvements in depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Read the detailed description
The current study will determine the feasibility and efficacy of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention for improving physical and psychological outcomes, and QOL, compared with a control condition, in individuals with MS. This represents a significant step forward in examining Pilates as an accessible, complementary therapy in MS.
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis, Pilates Exercise, Walking, Balance, Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, Pain Management
- Being tested
- Pilates
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, Pilates, Fatigue, Cognition, Quality of life, Walking, Depression, Balance, Pain
- Medical subject headings
- Multiple Sclerosis, Agnosia, Depression, Fatigue, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PilatesBehavioural
REMOTLY PILATES EXERCISE
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pilates group | Other | Behavioral: Pilates group Receives: Behavioral: Pilates |
| Control group | No intervention | Waitlist Group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline in walking endurance (Six-Minute Walk Test distance)
Distance walked during the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) will be measured in meters. The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in 6MWT distance.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in walking speed (Timed 25-Foot Walk)
Walking speed will be assessed using the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in time to walk 25 feet, measured in seconds.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in balance (Berg Balance Scale)
Balance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), a 14-item performance-based measure of static and dynamic balance. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, and the outcome will be the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the BBS total score (range 0-56), with higher scores indicating better balance and lower risk of falls.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale)
Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a 9-item questionnaire assessing the impact of fatigue on daily functioning. Each item is rated from 1 to 7, and the outcome will be the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the FSS mean score (range 1-7), with higher scores indicating more severe fatigue.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in pain (Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire)
Pain will be measured using the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in SF-MPQ total score.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change from baseline in cognitive processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test)
Cognitive processing speed will be assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in SDMT total score, with higher scores indicating better processing speed. SDMT scores typically range from 0 to about 110 correct responses.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in verbal learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test-II)
Verbal learning and memory will be assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in CVLT-II total recall score, with higher scores indicating better verbal learning and memory. CVLT-II total recall scores typically range from 0 to about 80.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in visuospatial learning and memory (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised)
Visuospatial learning and memory will be assessed using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in BVMT-R total recall score, with higher scores indicating better visuospatial memory. BVMT-R total recall scores typically range from 0 to 36.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in depression symptoms
Depression will be measured using a validated questionnaire (e.g., the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale or a similar instrument). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in depression total score, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. Typical depression scales have ranges such as 0-21 (HADS-D) ; enter the exact range that matches the scale you are using.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms
Anxiety will be measured using a validated questionnaire (e.g., the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale or a similar instrument). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in anxiety total score, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. Typical anxiety scales have ranges such as 0-21 (HADS-A) or 0-63 (BAI); enter the exact range that matches the scale you are using.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in health-related quality of life
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using a validated questionnaire (e.g., the MSQoL-54 or a comparable instrument). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the quality-of-life total score or composite score. For instruments scored 0-100, higher scores typically indicate better quality of life; specify the exact scoring range and direction according to your chosen measure.
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Nov 2025
- Primary completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Multiple SclerosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- our participants will be randomly assigned to either the Pilates intervention group or the waitlist control group, and both groups proceed simultaneously-this is a parallel design.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07504120
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY2025-0648-MOD001
- Other IDs
- MB-2110-38597
- Acronym
- MS
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Oct 2025
- Last updated
- 6 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Does Remotely Delivered Pilates Influence Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07504120
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MS / STUDY2025-0648-MOD001
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis, Pilates Exercise, Walking, Balance, Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, Pain Management
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, Pilates, Fatigue, Cognition, Quality of life, Walking, Depression, Balance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois at ChicagoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Objectives Objective 1: To determine the effects of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Objective 2: To examine the impact of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Aim Aim 1: To assess whether the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention significantly improves walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS Aim 2: To investigate whether the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention significantly improves depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Hypothesis Hypothesis 1: The 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention will significantly improve walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Hypothesis 2: Participants receiving the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention will demonstrate significantly greater improvements in depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.
Detailed description
The current study will determine the feasibility and efficacy of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention for improving physical and psychological outcomes, and QOL, compared with a control condition, in individuals with MS. This represents a significant step forward in examining Pilates as an accessible, complementary therapy in MS.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- our participants will be randomly assigned to either the Pilates intervention group or the waitlist control group, and both groups proceed simultaneously-this is a parallel design.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pilates group | Other | Behavioral: PilatesBehavioral: Pilates group |
| Control group | No intervention | –Waitlist Group |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Age 18 years or older
- Self-reported diagnosis of multiple sclerosis by a neurologist
- Relapse-free for the past 30 days before screening
- Able to speak and read English as the primary language
- Access to the internet and e-mail,
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Pregnant
- Elevated risk for strenuous or maximal exercise, defined as more than one "Yes" response on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) during screening
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PilatesREMOTLY PILATES EXERCISE | Behavioural | Pilates group |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in walking endurance (Six-Minute Walk Test distance)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Distance walked during the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) will be measured in meters. The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in 6MWT distance.
Change from baseline in walking speed (Timed 25-Foot Walk)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Walking speed will be assessed using the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in time to walk 25 feet, measured in seconds.
Change from baseline in balance (Berg Balance Scale)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Balance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), a 14-item performance-based measure of static and dynamic balance. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, and the outcome will be the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the BBS total score (range 0-56), with higher scores indicating better balance and lower risk of falls.
Change from baseline in fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a 9-item questionnaire assessing the impact of fatigue on daily functioning. Each item is rated from 1 to 7, and the outcome will be the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the FSS mean score (range 1-7), with higher scores indicating more severe fatigue.
Change from baseline in pain (Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Pain will be measured using the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). The outcome is the change from baseline to 16 weeks in SF-MPQ total score.
6 secondary outcomes
Change from baseline in cognitive processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in verbal learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test-II)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in visuospatial learning and memory (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised)
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in depression symptoms
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Change from baseline in health-related quality of life
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Pilates in people with Multiple Sclerosis and Pilates Exercise, run by University of Illinois at Chicago at 1 site in United States.
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 11 inclusion and 2 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Oct 2026. 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 United States. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from baseline in walking endurance (Six-Minute Walk Test distance) (time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks (end of treatment)). 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?
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 Oct 2026.