Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Versus Cycling Only on Walking and Quality of Life in MS

Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Versus Cycling Only on Walking Performance and Quality of Life in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study

This study will seek to determine the benefits that FES-LE cycling has over cycling alone on walking performance and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis.

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is a rehabilitation tool that stimulates nerves via electrical current, causing muscles to contract. When FES is appled to leg muscles during stationary cycling the legs move in a fixed rhythmical pattern. Previous studies have demonstrated that FES during cycling is a safe and effective exercise for individuals recovering from spinal cord injury or stroke, but few have applied this tool to a progressive disorder, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study is to assess the immediate and short-term effect of an 8-week training program comparing FES lower extremity cycling to cycling without FES. Twenty volunteers with MS will participate. They will be randomly assigned to a training group. This study examine the effects of training on quality of life, endurance, walking speed, and step quality. Participants will sign an informed consent and complete a questionnaire that includes medical history and demographic data. Before training, immediately after training finishes and one month after training, self-report questionnaires, timed walking tests will be completed. During the walking tests, step quality and speed will be measured with a sensor that is worn on a belt

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medical Diagnosis of MS
• Patient-determined Disease Steps score between 3.0 and 6.0 inclusive
• Ability to attend training sessions 3 times per week for an 8-10 week period
• Passing a submaximal exercise test
• Adequate hip range of motion (at least 110 degrees)
• Adequate knee range of motion (10-90 degrees)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive deficits that would interfere in ability to sign consent and understand the procedures for the study.
• History or presence of other neurological pathologies that interfere with movement
• Received physical therapy within the last 4 weeks prior to the study
• History of an acute exacerbation of their MS symptoms within 4 weeks prior to the study
• Immunosuppressive or steroid therapy within the past 4 weeks
• Significant spasticity in the legs that interferes with the cycling motion
• History of congestive heart failure
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Uncontrolled Hypertension
• History of epilepsy or seizures
• Cardiac demand pacemaker or implanted defibrillator
• Unhealed fractures in the legs
• Pressure sores or open wounds on the legs
• Pregnant or trying to conceive