Functional cycling ergometry with or without electrical stimulation in individuals with secondary progressive...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) significantly impacts mobility and exercise capacity.
• Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling is a potential therapy for MS, but its efficacy in individuals with moderate to severe disability remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of active FES cycling versus passive cycling on walking speed and other functional measures in people with SPMS and moderate to severe disability.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week randomized controlled trial comparing active FES cycling to passive cycling.
• Primary outcome: change in Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW).
• Secondary outcomes: Timed Up and Go (TUG), 2-Minute Walk Test, strength, disability, cognition, and quality of life assessments.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in primary or secondary outcomes were observed between the FES and passive cycling groups.
• FES cyclists showed a trend towards improved T25FW (p=0.08).
• Passive cyclists demonstrated a significant improvement in TUG (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

• Active FES cycling did not yield significantly different results compared to passive cycling for ambulatory function in PwSPMS.
• Both interventions were feasible and well-tolerated, with isolated within-group improvements noted.
• Longer intervention periods may be required to detect significant benefits in this population with higher baseline disability.