Exercise Training Program for Multiple Sclerosis
(TEAAMS Trial)
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment FLEX Stretching and Toning Program, Exercise Training Program, and Guidelines for Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) for multiple sclerosis?
Research shows that exercise training can improve symptoms and quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis, with benefits in areas like walking, balance, and fatigue. The GEMS program, which includes aerobic and resistance training, is designed to improve these outcomes by following MS-specific physical activity guidelines.12345
Is exercise training safe for people with multiple sclerosis?
How is the GEMS Exercise Program different from other treatments for multiple sclerosis?
The GEMS Exercise Program is unique because it is a home-based exercise training program specifically designed for people with multiple sclerosis, focusing on aerobic and resistance training. It includes personalized support through video chats with an exercise specialist and behavior change strategies, which are not typically part of standard MS treatments.123410
What is the purpose of this trial?
The proposed project involves a high-quality randomized controlled (RCT) design that examines the effects of a remotely-delivered, racially-tailored exercise training program for immediate and sustained improvement in walking dysfunction, symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among African-Americans with MS residing in rural environments. The primary analysis will test the hypothesis that those who are randomly assigned into the intervention condition (i.e., exercise training) will demonstrate (a) improvements in outcomes from baseline that (b) are sustained over 4-months of follow-up compared with those in the control condition (i.e., stretching).
Research Team
Robert Motl, Ph.D
Principal Investigator
University of Illinois at Chicago
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for African-American adults with Multiple Sclerosis living in rural areas, who are not very active physically, can use the internet and email, speak English, have been relapse-free for 30 days, and have mild to moderate walking difficulties. It's not for those at high risk of injury or death from intense exercise.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive a 4-month home-based, remotely supported exercise or stretching program
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for sustained improvements in walking dysfunction, symptoms, and HRQOL
Treatment Details
Interventions
- FLEX Stretching and Toning Program
- Guidelines for Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS)
Guidelines for Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) is already approved in United States for the following indications:
- Multiple Sclerosis
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Illinois at Chicago
Lead Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Collaborator
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Industry Sponsor
Christopher Boerner
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Chief Executive Officer since 2023
PhD in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley; BA in Economics and History from Washington University in St. Louis
Deepak L. Bhatt
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Chief Medical Officer since 2024
MD from Yale University; MSc in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
Collaborator