Pilot Trial of Backwards Walking in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02759211 |
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified August 2017 by Jennifer Ruiz, DPT, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
First Posted : May 3, 2016
Last Update Posted : August 30, 2017
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Multiple Sclerosis | Other: Backwards Walking Other: Forwards Walking | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 16 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Pilot Trial of Backwards Walking in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis |
Study Start Date : | April 2016 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | February 2018 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | February 2018 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Forwards Walking Group (FWG)
The intervention will consist of three (3), treadmill exercise sessions per week, for eight (8) weeks, for a total of 24 exercise sessions.
|
Other: Forwards Walking
The Forwards Walking Group will perform forwards walking for the entire treatment intervention. |
Experimental: Backwards Walking Group (BWG)
The intervention will consist of three (3), treadmill exercise sessions per week, for eight (8) weeks, for a total of 24 exercise sessions.
|
Other: Backwards Walking
The Backwards Walking Group will perform backwards walking for the entire treatment intervention. |
- Spatiotemporal Walking Parameters from Gaitrite Mat [ Time Frame: Change in Baseline Spatiotemporal Walking parameters from Gaitrite Mat after 8 week intervention ]Change in Baseline Spatiotemporal Walking parameters from Gaitrite Mat after 8 week intervention
- Gait Speed (Timed 25 Foot Walk) [ Time Frame: Change in f Baseline Gait Speed (Timed 25 Foot Walk) after 8 week intervention ]Timed 25 Foot Walk
- Single Leg Stance (SLS) [ Time Frame: Change in Baseline SLS after 8 week intervention ]
- Timed-up and Go [ Time Frame: Change in Baseline TUG after 8 week intervention ]
- Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) [ Time Frame: Change in Baseline ABC after 8 week intervention ]

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Confirmed clinical diagnosis of MS
- Cognitively able to understand directions and complete protocol (score of 22 or greater on MMSE)
- Signed Consent form approved by the Saint Francis Institutional Review Board
- 18-65 years of age
- PDDS score of 3 to 5 during the past 12 months
- Completion of the 6 minute walk test
- Speaks English (in order to safely complete intervention)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unwilling or unable to complete assessments and intervention
- Current participation in physical therapy
- Major changes in exercise habits in the past three months
- Has had a relapse, acute Solumedrol treatment, or Acthar treatment in the past two months
- Requires constant bilateral assistance (canes or crutches) for ambulation and/or cannot walk at least 100 meters without resting
- Current self-reported medical history of unstable angina, uncontrolled cardiac dysrhythmias causing symptoms, symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, uncontrolled symptomatic heart failure, acute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarction, history of DVT, acute myocarditis or pericarditis, acute systemic infection, uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled diabetes [11]
- Participants that cannot adhere to the protocol, have an abnormal response to exercise, or is determined to be unsafe may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Principal Investigator

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02759211
United States, Connecticut | |
Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital | Recruiting |
Hartford, Connecticut, United States, 06112 | |
Contact: Jennifer Ruiz, DPT 860-714-2149 |
Responsible Party: | Jennifer Ruiz, DPT, Research Manager, Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02759211 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
SFH-16-27 |
First Posted: | May 3, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | August 30, 2017 |
Last Verified: | August 2017 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Multiple Sclerosis Sclerosis Pathologic Processes Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System |
Nervous System Diseases Demyelinating Diseases Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases |