Effect of Cooling on Balance Performance in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

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.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 75
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Locations
United States
New York
Hunter College, Physical Therapy Department, City University of New York
RECRUITING
New York
Contact Information
Primary
Herbert Karpatkin, DSc
hkarpatk@hunter.cuny.edu
212-396-7115
Backup
Jaya Rachwani, PhD
jr5856@hunter.cuny.edu
212-396-7108
Time Frame
Start Date: 2023-11-02
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-12-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 30
Treatments
Persons with Multiple sclerosis
Persons with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: Hunter College of City University of New York

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov