Effects of Exercise and Sleep on Motor Learning and Functional Abilities in Multiple Sclerosis
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: Aerobic Exercise, Daytime Sleep - Nap.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Exercise, Sleep, Motor Learning, Memory. Basic parameters: 18 years — 70 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
- Denmark
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Daytime Sleep on Neurorehabilitation and Functional Abilities in Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence of Training the Brain in Neurorehabilitation
Overview
The ExSiMS study is a randomized, controlled crossover study including 20 individuals (18-70 years) diagnosed with relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) This project investigates, through behavioral and neurophysiological measurements, how aerobic exercise on an ergometer bike and sleep in the form of a nap and overnight sleep may enhance cortical motor skill learning evaluated by a complex hand motor skill test and thereby improve functional capacity in individuals with MS. Beyond the effect on motor skill learning, the project investigate the effect on electroencephalography (EEG) - electromyography (EMG) coherence. The study hypothesizes that individuals with neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), may experience beneficial effects on specific motor rehabilitation through systematically planned cardiovascular exercise and sleep scheduling, due to positive impacts on memory consolidation. Aims: * Investigate the brain's neurophysiological responses and memory effects following a training intervention and, separately, sleep, in the form of a power nap, in individuals with MS. * Examine whether these effects persist beyond the few days previously observed in healthy individuals by implementing a longer-term intervention. * Explore whether the training effect is influenced by disease activity in the brain, such as during relapses and during immunosuppressive treatment. * Assess whether the presence of abnormally reduced cognitive endurance (fatigue) affects the impact of the intervention involving exercise and sleep. The study is based on documented positive effects of physical activity and sleep in both young and older adults, as well as in individuals recovering from stroke. The research thus offers promising perspectives for broader applications within neurorehabilitation, and particularly for MS, as the disease is associated with functional impairments. At the same time, both physical exercise and sleep represent meaningful interventions that should be thoughtfully integrated into rehabilitation strategies.
Detailed description
The ExSiMS-project consists of both a proof-of-concept study and a longitudinal study.
In both studies, participants will perform a visuomotor accuracy tracking task (VATT) with their dominant hand on the main experimental days. The participants will wear EEG and EMG electrodes during the VATT. This will make it possible to investigate cortical activity during skill acquisition and later analyse the corticomuscular coherence. After the VATT, the participants will be randomized to either 20 min aerobic exercise on an ergometer bike, a short 30-minute nap or control (sitting rest). The interventions will run over a longer period of time in the longitudinal study.
The participants will be asked to do a retention test of the visuomotor accuracy tracking task 24 hours later.
The studies will run over more experiment days divided into two experiment blocks of at least two experiment days separated by between two weeks to three months.
Methods:
* Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG) * Actigraphy/Accelerometry * Visuomotor Accuracy Tracking Task (VATT) * Training on an Ergometerbike: Graded Exercise Test (GXT), High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) * Polysomnography (PSG)
Interventions
- Other Aerobic Exercise
The Aerobic Exercise Intervention consists of 20 minutes of Graded Exercise Test (GXT) on an ergometer bike. The participants start with 5 minutes of warm-up. The wattload will then be increased until exhaustion. - Behavioral Daytime Sleep - Nap
The Daytime sleep consists of a 30-minute nap after the acquisition of the visuomotor accuracy tracking task. The participants will be asked to rest in a supine position in a bed in a dark and quiet room.
Primary outcome measures
- Motor/Skill Learning [Time frame: Assessed on experiment days 1, 2, 3 and 4.]
- Neurophysiological Measurement I - Cortical Activity [Time frame: Assessed on experiment day 1, 2, 3 and 4.]
- Neurophysiological Measurement II - Muscular Activity [Time frame: Assessed on experiment day 1, 2, 3 and 4.]
- Neurophysiological Measurement III - Corticocortical Functional Connectivity [Time frame: Assessed on experiment day 1, 2, 3 and 4.]
- Neurophysiological Measurement IV - Corticomuscular Functional Connectivity [Time frame: Assessed on experiment day 1, 2, 3 and 4.]
- Neurophysiological Measurement V - Muscular Functional Connectivity [Time frame: Assessed on experiment day 1, 2, 3 and 4.]
Secondary outcome measures (6)
- Actigraphy [Time frame: Assessment from day 0 to experiment day 4.]
- Sleep quality - self reported sleep latency. [Time frame: Assessed at the days leading up to experiment days 1,2,3, and 4.]
- Sleep quality - Self reported sleep duration [Time frame: Assessed at the days leading up to experiment days 1,2,3, and 4.]
- Physical fitness level - work load [Time frame: Assessed on either experiment day 1 or 3.]
- Physical fitness level - heart rate [Time frame: Assessed on either experiment day 1 or 3]
- Physical fitness level - rating of perceived exertion [Time frame: Assessed on either experiment day 1 or 3.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Competent individuals (aged 18-70) diagnosed with early relapsing-remitting MS
- Expanded Disability Status Score, 1 < EDSS < 4.5
- MRC muscle strength ≥ 4+ in the dominant hand
Exclusion criteria
- Implanted devices, such as pacemakers or stimulators
- Epilepsy or neuromuscular diseases
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
Denmark · 2 centers
- Section of Movement and Neuroscience, Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports, Unive — Copenhagen
- Zealand University Hospital Roskilde — Roskilde
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07304375 · SJ-1040 · SJ-1040