New Treatments to Improve Balance and Nerve Function in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis Using Electrical Stimulation and Balance Training

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how combining balance training with two types of electrical stimulation can help people with Multiple Sclerosis MS improve leg strength, coordination, and balance. MS often leads to difficulty walking and an increased risk of falls, reducing independence. This study compares three approaches balance training alone, balance training with Functional Electrical Stimulation FES, and balance training with both FES and Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation TSCS. The study is funded by MS Canada and aims to understand how these methods affect motor control and balance in MS patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group will do balance training with sham electrical stimulation, the second will have balance training combined with active FES to leg muscles, and the third group will receive balance training with both FES and TSCS, which stimulates the spinal cord through the skin. All groups will complete 12 supervised sessions over six weeks involving interactive balance games while standing in a safety harness, using a force plate that gives real-time visual feedback to challenge and improve postural control. Participants will be assessed at three times before starting training, after completing the six weeks of training, and eight weeks after training ends. Assessments include clinical mobility and balance tests like the Timed Up and Go and Berg Balance Scale, computerized balance tests, questionnaires about walking and balance confidence, and neurophysiological measures of brain-spinal cord-muscle communication. Safety and feasibility will be monitored throughout the study. The total participation duration spans about 14 weeks from baseline to follow-up.

Innovative Approaches to Enhance Balance and Neuroplasticity in Multiple Sclerosis