NCT07548242Completed
The Effects of a 12-week In-phase Bilateral Exercise Programme on the Corticospinal Plasticity in People With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 23 Apr 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This study investigates whether a structured exercise program using coordinated movements of both arms can improve brain and motor function in people with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Progressive MS is associated with gradual worsening of neurological function, including difficulties with movement, strength, balance, and cognition. Because current medications have limited effects on disease progression, rehabilitation strategies that promote brain plasticity and functional recovery are increasingly important. In this study, five individuals with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis participated in a 12-week exercise program consisting of in-phase bilateral upper-limb movements performed three times per week. Brain activity related to movement was measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which assessed corticospinal excitability through active motor threshold measurements. Additional clinical tests evaluated walking speed, balance, hand dexterity, muscle strength, cognitive processing speed, fatigue, and quality of life. The study used a single-case experimental design with repeated measurements during baseline and intervention phases to determine whether the exercise program produced measurable neurophysiological and functional changes.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 5 (actual)
- First submitted
- 15 Mar 2026
- Start date
- 1 Feb 2025
- Primary completion date
- 23 Jun 2025
- Lead sponsor
- Marinos Chatzikonstantinou
- Diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- NCT number
- NCT07548242
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 5
- From 1 Feb 2025 to the primary completion date, 23 Jun 2025
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Metallic implants in the brain contraindicating transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Other illness
- Presence of other neurological diseases affecting the central nervous system (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke)
- History of significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart failure, aneurysm)
- History of epilepsy or seizures
- Severe orthopedic disorders (e.g., recent fractures, spine surgery, severe musculoskeletal injury)
- Severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia)
Other
- Pregnancy during the study period
- Severe visual impairments (e.g., optic neuritis, diplopia)
- Severe hearing impairments (e.g., deafness)
- Severe spasticity greater than grade 1+ on the Modified Ashworth Scale
Who the study is looking for
- Diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) or Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
- Age between 30 and 75 years
- Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 5 and 7
- Ability to understand study procedures and provide informed consent
- Ability to safely participate in an exercise program involving coordinated upper-limb movements
Age in the registry: 30 years to 75 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Nicosia | Cyprus | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.