Effects of High-intensity Gait Training on Fatigue, Gait, and Neuroplasticity in People With Multiple Sclerosis
Nearly 1 million individuals in the United States have multiple sclerosis, which causes fatigue and problems with walking. Fatigue and walking problems are poorly treated, but exercise training, particularly high-intensity walking exercise, may help. This provide insight into whether high-intensity walking exercise can improve fatigue and walking problems in people with multiple sclerosis, which could improve quality of life and reduce economic burden.
• Age ≥21 years
• Multiple sclerosis diagnosis
• Stable disease-modifying therapy (DMT) over the past 6 months
• Walking dysfunction (i.e., abnormal gait pattern, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 4-6.5, and/or Patient-determined disease steps (PDDS) score of 3-6)
• Able to walk for 6 minutes at self-paced speed. Handheld assistive device is acceptable.
• Symptomatic fatigue (Fatigue Severity Score ≥ 4)