Increasing Physical Activity for Adults With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: ExerciseRx intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Fatigue, Physical Inactivity. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Increasing Physical Activity Via Provider Prescription and Engagement: Efficacy of ExerciseRx for Adults With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Overview
This study aims to advance the scientific understanding and potential future implementation of physical activity promotion by testing the efficacy of a phone-based app for increasing activity in insufficiently active patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Detailed description
This study aims to test the efficacy of ExerciseRx, a free software platform designed to increase physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Exercise is crucial for managing MS symptoms and overall health, but approximately 80% of PwMS do not get enough physical activity due to barriers like physical limitations, common MS symptoms, and lack of community exercise facilities. ExerciseRx translates clinically relevant activity data collected by personal smart devices into actionable metrics on a dashboard within the Epic electronic health record, allowing healthcare providers to prescribe and monitor tailored physical activity solutions for their patients. This study will test the effects of ExerciseRx in a sample of inactive PwMS.
Interventions
- Other ExerciseRx intervention
ExerciseRx is a cloud-based, HIPPA-compliant free software platform created for healthcare providers to prescribe and monitor physical activity as part of routine care. ExerciseRx translates clinically relevant activity data collected by the patient's existing personal smart devices (Android or iOS phone) into actionable metrics on a dashboard within the Epic electronic health record. Providers then use the platform to prescribe physical activity tailored to patients' ability levels and preferen
Primary outcome measures
- Physical activity: daily average step count [Time frame: Baseline and week 13]
Secondary outcome measures (10)
- Activity volume [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Minutes/week of moderate intensity aerobic activity [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Fatigue - PROMIS Fatigue-MS Short Form 8a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Pain intensity - PROMIS Pain Intensity Short Form 3a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Depressive symptom severity - PROMIS Depression Short Form 8a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Sleep disturbance - PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Short Form 6a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Physical functioning - PROMIS Physical Function 10a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Pain interference - PROMIS Pain Interference Scale Short Form 6a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Social participation - PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities Short Form 8a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
- Social participation - PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities Short Form 8a [Time frame: Baseline, weeks 13 and 26]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Provider-confirmed diagnosis of MS using revised 2017 McDonald criteria
- > 18+ years of age
- Patient determined disease steps (PDDS) score < 3, indicating the potential for some gait disability although typically ambulates without an assistive device
- Insufficiently active, defined as < 150 minutes of physical activity per week, assessed using the PAVS in the EHR in clinics as part of the routine patient intake process
- Use of an iPhone with software version iOS13+ or an Android phone 4.1+
- Agree to install and use the ExerciseRx app for the entire study period and keep their phone on them during the daytime (e.g., pocket, bags, hands)
Exclusion criteria
- Recent (past 4 weeks) or planned surgery during the study period which may impact engaging in step counts
- MS relapse within the last 30 days
- Plans to travel internationally during the study period, which could interfere with server uploads of mobile phone data
- Those at a higher risk of falling or injury from falls or unable to safely exercise due to other medical conditions (e.g. heart conditions, diabetes or conditions made worse by walking or physical activity)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- UW Medicine — Seattle
Publications
- Ehde DM, Simmons SB, Alschuler KN, Herring TE, Humbert AT, Robles SR, Ioseliani O, Landis K, Kavanagh LB, Lin CY. Increasing Physical Activity via Provider Support and Engagement Using a Digital Health Platform in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Nov 21;14:e72213. doi: 10.2196/72213. PMID 41268963
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06270641 · STUDY00018628