30 Participants Needed

Effect of Cooling on Balance Performance in Multiple Sclerosis

HK
JR
Overseen ByJaya Rachwani, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Hunter College of City University of New York
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this observational study to examine the effects of cooling on balance in persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Persons with Multiple Sclerosis frequently have problems with balance leading to falls and related injuries, as well as avoidance of activities that may challenge balance. Persons with Multiple Sclerosis are also well known to experience worsening of their symptoms when they become too warm, a condition known as thermosensitivity. This suggests that heat may worsen balance and increase falls risk in persons with Multiple Sclerosis. In this study we are examining the effects of wearing a cooling vest on balance performance in persons with MS. The main questions our study aims to answer are: Question 1- Does wearing a cooling vest result in better balance performance in persons with MS when compared to a condition when they are not wearing the vest. Participants will be given a balance test to assess their baseline balance performance. Following the test participants will be randomly assigned to either a cooled or an uncooled condition. In the cooled condition, participants will wear a commercially available cooling vest while pedaling for 20 minutes at their best comfortable pace on a recumbent stationary bicycle. Immediately following the 20 minutes of exercise the vest shall be removed and the balance test repeated. Subjects in the uncooled condition will perform the same task but without wearing the vest. One week later, participants will return and will perform the opposite of what they did the previous week; subjects who were in the cooled group will perform the 20 minute exercise test without the cooling vest and subjects who were uncooled will perform the test with a cooling vest. The same balance test will be performed before and after the exercise bout.The change in the balance scores between the 2 conditions will be compared.

Research Team

HK

Herbert Karpatkin, Dsc

Principal Investigator

Hunter College Physical therapy Department, City University of New York

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

To qualify, you must have a definitive diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, be able to stand alone for at least one minute, read and understand an informed consent form, and be aged between 18-75.

Treatment Details

Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Persons with Multiple sclerosisExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Persons with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Hunter College of City University of New York

Lead Sponsor

Trials
43
Recruited
10,000+