Flexibility, Resistance, Aerobic, Movement Execution Training Program to Improve Walking in Adults with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia: A Feasibility Trial

What this Trial Is About

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is a group of inherited neurological disorders that cause increasing weakness and stiffness in the lower limbs, leading to significant difficulties with balance and walking speed. There is currently no structured rehabilitation program designed to improve walking in adults with HSP. This research aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of a training program that focuses on flexibility, muscle strength, motor control, balance, and aerobic fitness. Twenty adults diagnosed with HSP will participate in 10 to 16 therapy sessions lasting 60 to 120 minutes each, scheduled once or twice per week based on individual preferences. The training includes four parts: flexibility exercises combined with electrical stimulation to reduce muscle stiffness; resistance and balance training targeting core and lower limb muscles; movement execution training based on motor learning to improve walking patterns and balance; and aerobic exercise using high-intensity interval training to enhance cardiovascular fitness. After completing the sessions, participants will receive written instructions and video tutorials to support ongoing home exercise. Participants will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after, and three months later. Researchers will track recruitment, retention, adherence to the program, safety, and patient satisfaction. They will also measure improvements in walking endurance and speed, muscle strength, joint movement, balance, and overall function. The study lasts about three months, and the results will help understand the feasibility of this rehabilitation approach for adults with HSP.

Flexibility, Resistance, Aerobic, Movement Execution Training in Adults With Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia