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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society | OTHER |
| Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada | OTHER |
| University of California, San Diego | OTHER |
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia |
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This multi-center, randomized controlled feasibility trial will assess a 20-week home-based exercise intervention in youth with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The goal is to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger, definitive trial on exercise training as a non-pharmacological approach to improve disease outcomes in this population.
Participants will be randomized to either an Exercise Training group or a Mobility and Flexibility Training group. The investigators will evaluate differences between the two groups in physical activity levels, mediators of physical activity, and psychosocial outcomes. Assessments, including clinical exams, brain MRI, eye tracking, cognitive testing, blood draws, and questionnaires, will occur at baseline and after 20 weeks. Accelerometry will be done at baseline, 10 weeks, and 20 weeks to track physical activity.
The primary objectives are to assess the feasibility of recruiting, retaining, and randomizing youth with MS and to evaluate adherence to the exercise intervention and coaching sessions. Exploratory objectives include examining changes in depressive symptoms, cognitive function, blood biomarkers (BDNF and irisin), brain volume, and fitness levels in response to the intervention.
Approximately 40 participants will be enrolled from four sites in Canada and the United States.
Primary outcomes include feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity measures. Exploratory outcomes include blood biomarkers, brain MRI, cognitive testing, and other neuropsychological measures.
Overview: This research study explores the potential of exercise as a non-pharmacological treatment for youth with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The investigators are conducting a 20-week home-based exercise program to determine if it is feasible to implement this type of intervention in a larger trial in the future. Our ultimate goal is to understand how exercise might help improve both physical and mental health outcomes for youth with MS.
Why This Study is Important: Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, often leading to issues with movement, balance, vision, and other body functions. In young people, MS can have a significant impact on daily life, including mental health and cognitive abilities (such as memory and problem-solving). Medications can help manage symptoms, but there is growing interest in non-medication approaches, like exercise, to enhance the overall well-being of youth with MS. This study aims to investigate whether a structured exercise program can benefit physical fitness, mental health, and brain function in young people living with MS.
Study Design: This feasibility trial will enroll approximately 40 participants from four different locations in Canada and the United States. These participants will be youth diagnosed with MS.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
The study will collect data through various assessments, including:
What the Investigators Hope to Learn: The main goal of this study is to see whether it is practical to run a large-scale trial using a home-based exercise program for youth with MS. The investigators will look at whether it is possible to successfully recruit, retain, and engage participants in the program and how well they adhere to the exercise plan.
In addition to feasibility, the study has several exploratory objectives:
Why It Matters: This study is a critical first step in determining if exercise can be a viable and effective way to improve the lives of youth with MS. If successful, the findings will pave the way for a larger trial that could lead to new, non-medication-based treatments to improve mental health, cognitive function, and overall well-being in young people with MS.
By addressing the gaps in understanding how exercise benefits youth with MS, this research could offer valuable insights into developing better care strategies for this population. The results will inform not only how future exercise programs are designed but also provide a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms linking physical activity to brain health and mood in youth with MS.
Study Locations: The study will take place across four sites:
How This Study Will Help in the Future: The information the investigators gather from this feasibility trial will help shape a larger, more definitive study to further explore whether exercise can be widely implemented as a safe and effective treatment option for youth with MS. It could lead to new therapeutic strategies that do not rely solely on medication but focus on holistic approaches to health and wellness.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Training Group | Active Comparator | The exercise training will follow a progressive interval-based training program designed for youth with MS. Participants will engage in three weekly exercise sessions. Participants will be given access to links to live virtual structured exercise sessions. The sessions will be scheduled weekly in partnership with a coach. A trained fitness instructor will lead the participants in a 10-minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of interval training, and a 10-minute stretching and cool down activity. Intervals will progress in intensity over the course of the 20-week program and progression will be based on individualized target heart rate zones established from baseline exercise testing. |
|
| Mobility & Flexibility Training Group | Sham Comparator | The Mobility & Flexibility Training Program focuses on mobility and flexibility. The training will be focused on improving mobility and flexibility through three times a week stretching and mobility program. A 5-minute warm up will be followed by a series of stretches and mobility patterns that will be repeated as a circuit four times. Each session will focus on a specific muscle group - upper body, lower body or core. The classes will be led by a fitness instructor in the same manner as the exercise group with a virtual link sent to the participants. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Training | Behavioral | The Exercise Training will follow a progressive interval-based training program designed for youth with MS. Participants will engage in three weekly exercise sessions. Participants will be given access to links to live virtual structured exercise sessions. The sessions will be scheduled weekly in partnership with a coach. A trained fitness instructor will lead the participants in a 10-minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of interval training, and a 10-minute stretching and cool down activity. Intervals will progress in intensity over the course of the 20-week program and progression will be based on individualized target heart rate zones. The session will be delivered via a live feed in order to foster social support from the participants peers enrolled in the program. Participants will have the option of completing the class in real-time and make up classes will also be available through a repository of sessions accessible through links to the repository cloud. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Participant accrual rate | Number of participants enrolled per year | From enrollment to the end of study |
| Fidelity of delivering the intervention | ASPIRE fidelity coaching checklist. This measure assesses the fidelity with which study coaches deliver the intervention during calls with participants. Participants are scored on a scale from 0 to 2, based on the extent to which the intervention components are covered: 0: Did not cover - The intervention component was not addressed during the call.
A higher score reflects a more complete and accurate delivery of the intervention as planned. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Participant drop-out rate | Percentage of total patients that dropped out of study. | From enrollment to the end of study |
| Adverse event rate | Number of adverse events per total participants | From enrollment to the end of study |
| Completion rate of study measures | Percentage of total patients that completed the study measures. | From enrollment to the end of study |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Blood myokine irisin measurement | Change in blood irisin levels (ng/mL) between baseline and end of 20-week intervention. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) measurement |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Yeh, MD | Contact | 416-813-7353 | ann.yeh@sickkids.ca | |
| Jesse Joynt, MSc | Contact | 416-813-7654 X415125 | jesse.joynt@sickkids.ca |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Diego | La Jolla | California | 92093 | United States |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29275977 | Result | Thompson AJ, Banwell BL, Barkhof F, Carroll WM, Coetzee T, Comi G, Correale J, Fazekas F, Filippi M, Freedman MS, Fujihara K, Galetta SL, Hartung HP, Kappos L, Lublin FD, Marrie RA, Miller AE, Miller DH, Montalban X, Mowry EM, Sorensen PS, Tintore M, Traboulsee AL, Trojano M, Uitdehaag BMJ, Vukusic S, Waubant E, Weinshenker BG, Reingold SC, Cohen JA. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria. Lancet Neurol. 2018 Feb;17(2):162-173. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30470-2. Epub 2017 Dec 21. | |
| 21387374 |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000090862 | Neuroinflammatory Diseases |
| D009103 | Multiple Sclerosis |
| D009043 | Motor Activity |
| D003863 | Depression |
| D000092862 | Psychological Well-Being |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D007249 | Inflammation |
| D010335 | Pathologic Processes |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D015444 | Exercise |
| D016059 | Range of Motion, Articular |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009043 | Motor Activity |
| D009068 | Movement |
| D009142 | Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena |
| D055687 | Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena |
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| OTHER |
| Alberta Health Services, Calgary | OTHER |
| Queen's University | OTHER |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | OTHER |
| Unity Health Toronto | OTHER |
Participants will be randomized at the time of enrolment to either an Exercise Training group or a Mobility and Flexibility Training group.
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To avoid bias or influence in outcomes, participants will not be informed which training group is the intervention group and which is the sham/control group.
|
|
| Mobility and Flexibility Training | Behavioral | The Mobility and Flexibility Training will be focused on improving mobility and flexibility through three times a week stretching and mobility program. A 5-minute warm up will be followed by a series of stretches and mobility patterns that will be repeated as a circuit four times. Each session will focus on a specific muscle group - upper body, lower body or core. The classes will be led by a fitness instructor in the same manner as the exercise intervention arm with a virtual link sent to the participants. |
|
|
Change in blood BDNF levels (ng/mL) between baseline and end of 20-week intervention.
| From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Change in brain volumes | This outcome measure assesses changes in brain volume following the intervention. MRI scans of the brain will be performed at baseline and at 20 weeks. The outcome metrics include the absolute change in brain volume (mm^3), percentage change in brain volume, and variance in brain volume changes across participants. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Cognitive flexibility - Dimensional Change Card Sort test | This outcome measure evaluates cognitive performance based on a combination of accuracy and reaction time. The scoring process combines accuracy and reaction time, using a 2-vector system where each vector is scored from 0 to 5. The final score ranges from 0 to 10. If a participant's accuracy is 80% or lower, the final score is based solely on accuracy. If accuracy exceeds 80%, both accuracy and reaction time are combined to calculate the final score. A score below 4 indicates that accuracy was insufficient (lower than or equal to 80%) to allow for a reaction time score. Higher scores are associated with better cognitive flexibility. Normative data are used to compare the participant's performance to age- and education-based averages, providing a contextual understanding of individual scores. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Executive function (Inhibitory control and attention) - Flanker test | The scoring method for the Flanker test is identical to that of the DCCS and uses a 2-vector scoring system based on accuracy and reaction time, each scored on a scale from 0 to 5. The final computed score ranges from 0 to 10, representing the participant's overall performance. If a participant's accuracy is 80% or lower, the final computed score is based solely on accuracy. If accuracy exceeds 80%, the reaction time score and accuracy score are combined to calculate the final score. A computed score below 4 indicates that the participant did not achieve sufficient accuracy (lower than or equal to 80%) to include a reaction time component. Higher scores reflect better attention and the ability to ignore distractions, indicating stronger cognitive control. Normative data are used to compare the participant's performance to age- and education-based averages, providing a contextual understanding of individual scores. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Information Processing Speed - Oral Symbol Digit Test (OSD) | The OSD assesses information processing speed, attention, and cognitive efficiency by requiring participants to match numbers with corresponding symbols using a reference key within a 120-seconds time limit. The test is scored based on the total number of correct responses (raw score), with higher scores indicating better performance. Changes in raw scores between Time 1 and Time 2 reflect improvements or declines in cognitive processing speed over time. Normative data are used to compare the participant's performance to age- and education-based averages, providing context for individual scores. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Free viewing eye tracking - Saccades | This outcome measure evaluates visual attention, cognitive processing, and arousal through key eye-tracking metrics collected during free-viewing tasks. Data are recorded and analyzed to understand participants' visual and cognitive engagement with presented stimuli. The mean saccade rate (MSR) will be calculated as the frequency of macro-saccades (saccades with an amplitude of greater than or equal to 2 degress) across all videos combined. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Free viewing eye tracking - Fixations | This outcome measure evaluates visual attention, cognitive processing, and arousal through key eye-tracking metrics collected during free-viewing tasks. Data are recorded and analyzed to understand participants' visual and cognitive engagement with presented stimuli.The mean fixation duration (MFD) will be calculated as the average time spent fixating between any two successive saccades across all video clips. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| PedsQL Core Module | This measure evaluates the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents using the Varni Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Core Module. The PedsQL consists of 23 items across four dimensions: Physical, Emotional, Social, and School Functioning. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with responses reverse-scored and transformed to a 0-100 scale, where higher scores indicate better HRQoL. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Varni Pediatric Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL-MFS) | The Varni Pediatric Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL-MFS) is a tool designed to measure fatigue in children and adolescents, assessing its impact on daily functioning. The scale includes 18 items across three domains: General Fatigue, Sleep/Rest Fatigue, Cognitive Fatigue. Participants rate their level of fatigue over the past month on a 5-point Likert scale, where higher scores indicate less fatigue. Items are reverse-scored and transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores representing less fatigue. Subscale scores are calculated for each dimension, and a total fatigue score is derived by averaging the scores from all three domains. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Children's Rating Scale (CES-DC) | The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Children's Rating Scale (CES-DC) is a widely used tool for assessing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The scale consists of 20 items that measure symptoms of depression experienced during the past week. These symptoms are related to mood, behavior, and physical well-being, and include feelings of sadness, irritability, social withdrawal, and changes in sleep or appetite. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not At All) to 3 (A Lot). The total score is obtained by summing the ratings across all 20 items, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Screen for Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED) | The Screen for Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED) is a self-report tool designed to screen for anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. The scale consists of 41 items that assess symptoms related to various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Each item is rated on a 3-point Likert scale: 0 (Not true or hardly ever true), 1 (Somewhat true or sometimes true), and 2 (Very true or often true). The total score is derived by summing the ratings across all items, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) | The GLTEQ is a self-report tool used to assess the frequency and intensity of physical activity during leisure time. The GLTEQ consists of three questions that measure the frequency of strenuous, moderate, and light physical activities performed for at least 15 minutes during a typical week. Participants are asked to report the number of times they engage in each level of activity over the past week, using the following intensity categories: Strenuous activity, Moderate activity, and Light activity. Each question is rated on a 4-point scale: 0 (None), 1 (once a week), 2 (twice a week), and 3 (3 or more times a week). The GLTEQ provides a score by multiplying the frequency of each activity level by a corresponding factor (9 for strenuous, 5 for moderate, and 3 for light), and then summing the results. The final score represents the overall level of physical activity, with higher scores indicating greater levels of leisure-time physical activity. | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks |
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 19104 | United States |
|
| Stollery Children's Hospital | Edmonton | Alberta | T6G 2B7 | Canada |
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| The Hospital for Sick Children | Toronto | Ontario | M5G 1X8 | Canada |
|
| Result |
| Polman CH, Reingold SC, Banwell B, Clanet M, Cohen JA, Filippi M, Fujihara K, Havrdova E, Hutchinson M, Kappos L, Lublin FD, Montalban X, O'Connor P, Sandberg-Wollheim M, Thompson AJ, Waubant E, Weinshenker B, Wolinsky JS. Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria. Ann Neurol. 2011 Feb;69(2):292-302. doi: 10.1002/ana.22366. |
| 17438241 | Result | Krupp LB, Banwell B, Tenembaum S; International Pediatric MS Study Group. Consensus definitions proposed for pediatric multiple sclerosis and related disorders. Neurology. 2007 Apr 17;68(16 Suppl 2):S7-12. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000259422.44235.a8. |
| 34954651 | Result | Stephens S, Schneiderman JE, Finlayson M, Berenbaum T, Motl RW, Yeh EA. Feasibility of a theory-informed mobile app for changing physical activity in youth with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 Feb;58:103467. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103467. Epub 2021 Dec 20. |
| 31022481 | Result | Motl RW, Backus D, Neal WN, Cutter G, Palmer L, McBurney R, Schmidt H, Bethoux F, Hebert J, Ng A, McCully KK, Plummer P. Rationale and design of the STEP for MS Trial: Comparative effectiveness of Supervised versus Telerehabilitation Exercise Programs for Multiple Sclerosis. Contemp Clin Trials. 2019 Jun;81:110-122. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.04.013. Epub 2019 Apr 22. |
| 33245672 | Result | Stephens S, Berenbaum T, Finlayson M, Motl RW, Yeh EA. Youth with multiple sclerosis have low levels of fitness. Mult Scler. 2021 Sep;27(10):1597-1605. doi: 10.1177/1352458520974360. Epub 2020 Nov 27. |
| 35349884 | Result | Bilek F, Cetisli-Korkmaz N, Ercan Z, Deniz G, Demir CF. Aerobic exercise increases irisin serum levels and improves depression and fatigue in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 May;61:103742. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103742. Epub 2022 Mar 15. |
| 23800444 | Result | Spalletta G, Piras F, Caltagirone C, Fagioli S. Hippocampal multimodal structural changes and subclinical depression in healthy individuals. J Affect Disord. 2014 Jan;152-154:105-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.068. Epub 2013 Jun 22. |
| 16126743 | Result | Nabkasorn C, Miyai N, Sootmongkol A, Junprasert S, Yamamoto H, Arita M, Miyashita K. Effects of physical exercise on depression, neuroendocrine stress hormones and physiological fitness in adolescent females with depressive symptoms. Eur J Public Health. 2006 Apr;16(2):179-84. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cki159. Epub 2005 Aug 26. |
| 24120943 | Result | Wrann CD, White JP, Salogiannnis J, Laznik-Bogoslavski D, Wu J, Ma D, Lin JD, Greenberg ME, Spiegelman BM. Exercise induces hippocampal BDNF through a PGC-1alpha/FNDC5 pathway. Cell Metab. 2013 Nov 5;18(5):649-59. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.09.008. Epub 2013 Oct 10. |
| 17765329 | Result | Cotman CW, Berchtold NC, Christie LA. Exercise builds brain health: key roles of growth factor cascades and inflammation. Trends Neurosci. 2007 Sep;30(9):464-72. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2007.06.011. Epub 2007 Aug 31. |
| 21282661 | Result | Erickson KI, Voss MW, Prakash RS, Basak C, Szabo A, Chaddock L, Kim JS, Heo S, Alves H, White SM, Wojcicki TR, Mailey E, Vieira VJ, Martin SA, Pence BD, Woods JA, McAuley E, Kramer AF. Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Feb 15;108(7):3017-22. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1015950108. Epub 2011 Jan 31. |
| 22805247 | Result | Parrish JB, Weinstock-Guttman B, Smerbeck A, Benedict RH, Yeh EA. Fatigue and depression in children with demyelinating disorders. J Child Neurol. 2013 Jun;28(6):713-8. doi: 10.1177/0883073812450750. Epub 2012 Jul 17. |
| 30211252 | Result | Longoni G, Brown RA, Aubert-Broche B, Grover SA, Branson HM, Fetco D, Bar-Or A, Marrie RA, Motl RW, Collins DL, Narayanan S, Arnold DL, Banwell B, Yeh EA. Physical activity and dentate gyrus volume in pediatric acquired demyelinating syndromes. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2018 Sep 6;5(6):e499. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000499. eCollection 2018 Nov. |
| 27717498 | Result | Grover SA, Sawicki CP, Kinnett-Hopkins D, Finlayson M, Schneiderman JE, Banwell B, Till C, Motl RW, Yeh EA. Physical Activity and Its Correlates in Youth with Multiple Sclerosis. J Pediatr. 2016 Dec;179:197-203.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.08.104. Epub 2016 Oct 4. |
| 30878208 | Result | Stephens S, Shams S, Lee J, Grover SA, Longoni G, Berenbaum T, Finlayson M, Motl RW, Yeh EA. Benefits of Physical Activity for Depression and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Longitudinal Analysis. J Pediatr. 2019 Jun;209:226-232.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.01.040. Epub 2019 Mar 14. |
| D020278 | Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS |
| D020274 | Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System |
| D003711 | Demyelinating Diseases |
| D001327 | Autoimmune Diseases |
| D007154 | Immune System Diseases |
| D001519 | Behavior |
| D001526 | Behavioral Symptoms |
| D010549 | Personal Satisfaction |
| D010808 | Physical Examination |
| D019937 | Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures |
| D003933 | Diagnosis |