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RecruitingNCT07815990Updated Nov 2, 2026

Aerobic Fitness in Multiple Sclerosis: The Relationship Between Balance and Sensory Dual-Tasking

An observational study in Multiple Sclerosis, sponsored by Suleyman Demirel University. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-02.

Sponsored by Suleyman Demirel University · Observational

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Sep 2026; still recruiting 1 month later.
Updated Nov 2, 2026Now RecruitingFirst site in Turkey (Türkiye)+1 moreGo to Updates ↓
Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
70
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of this study is to comparatively examine the effect of aerobic fitness levels on walking and balance performance, sensory dual-task (proprioceptive and vestibular) performance, balance confidence, and fatigue levels in individuals diagnosed with MS.

Research hypotheses H1: MS patients with high aerobic fitness exhibit superior walking speed and balance performance compared to MS patients with low aerobic fitness.

H2: In sensory dual-task tests involving proprioceptive and vestibular manipulations (BOSU ball, soft surface, and head movements synchronized with a metronome), MS patients with high aerobic fitness demonstrate better performance than the group with low aerobic fitness.

H3: MS patients with high aerobic fitness report higher levels of balance confidence compared to the group with low aerobic fitness.

H4: Perceived fatigue is greater in MS patients with low aerobic fitness compared to the group with high aerobic fitness.

H5: There is a significant relationship between aerobic capacity levels and sensory dual-task performance, balance confidence, and fatigue severity in MS patients.

Read the detailed description

The study will be conducted on volunteer patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by a specialist physician in the Department of Neurology of Isparta Süleyman Demirel University Hospital. All stages of the study will be conducted at Isparta Süleyman Demirel University. Informed consent form will be obtained from all patients participating in the study.The research protocol consists of two main phases. In Phase 1, "Basic Assessment and Grouping," participants' aerobic fitness will be determined using the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Based on the walking distance results, the sample will be divided into two groups: "Group 1: Those with High Aerobic Fitness" and "Group 2: Those with Low Aerobic Fitness."In Phase 2, the "Joint Clinical and Dual Task Protocol," data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the Timed 25-Step Walk Test (T25WWT), the Timed Up and Walk Test (TUWT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Modified Clinical Sensory Interaction Test (MCIT), the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ASBCS), and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

02

Conditions studied

  • Multiple Sclerosis

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Keywords

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Aerobic Capacity
  • Dual-Task Performance
  • Postural Control
  • Dynamic Balance
03

In context

Multiple Sclerosis

3,264 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 659 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 70 is below the median of 100 across 970 observational studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.

Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Suleyman Demirel University is the lead sponsor of 127 studies on the registry; 35 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

This study was planned as a cross-sectional study, and the target population of the research consists of individuals diagnosed with MS and followed up in Isparta province.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Having been diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting or Progressive MS.
  • Being between 18-65 years of age.
  • Having an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 1.5-5.
  • Being able to walk independently or with a unilateral assistive device.
  • Having full cooperation and orientation, and a cognitive level to understand given commands: Mini Mental Test score of 24 or higher.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having experienced an MS relapse or received acute treatment within the last 3 months.
  • Having an additional neurological, orthopedic, or rheumatological condition unrelated to MS that may affect balance and walking.
  • Having severe cardiovascular or respiratory disease that may make aerobic fitness assessment risky.
  • Having significant vision or hearing loss that would impede understanding test instructions.
  • Experiencing significant pain during measurements.
  • Having cognitive impairment that would prevent understanding or answering questions - scoring below 24 on the Minimental Test.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
70 participants (estimated)
Target follow-up
1 Day
Patient registry
Yes

Groups and cohorts

  • Those with High Aerobic Fitness: Joint Clinical and Dual Duty Protocol

    Data will be collected once using a Personal Information Form, the Timed 25-Step Walk Test (T25WWT), the Timed Up and Walk Test (TUWT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Modified Clinical Sensory Interaction Test (MCIET), the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ASBCS), and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

  • Individuals with Low Aerobic Fitness: Joint Clinical and Dual Duty Protocol

    Data will be collected once using a Personal Information Form, the Timed 25-Step Walk Test (T25WWT), the Timed Up and Walk Test (TUWT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Modified Clinical Sensory Interaction Test (MCIET), the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ASBCS), and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 6-Minute Walk Test

    Participants' aerobic fitness, walking endurance, and functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the 6DKYT. Participants are asked to walk for 6 minutes at their own determined maximum safe pace in a 30-meter straight corridor, and the total distance covered is recorded in meters.

    Time frame: Day 1

Secondary outcomes

  1. Timed 25-Step Walking Test

    To assess participants' baseline walking performance and speed, the Z25AYT, a subtest of the universal Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite Battery, will be administered. Participants will be asked to walk a distance of 25 steps (approximately 7.62 meters) as quickly and safely as possible, and the elapsed time will be measured with a stopwatch and recorded in seconds.

    Time frame: Day 1

  2. Dual Task Performance Test: Standing (Static Balance) Tasks

    1. Proprioceptive Task: The goal is to restrict/modify the proprioceptive inputs from the participant's support surface. For this purpose, the participant is asked to stand on an unstable surface (BOSU ball) to examine the effect of uncertainty in deep sensory inputs on static postural control. 2. Vestibular Task: The participant's proprioceptive inputs are stabilized by having them stand on a hard, stable surface. The role of the vestibular system in balance is assessed by having the participant stand while making rhythmic head movements (accompanied by a metronome). Thus, by manipulating the inputs from the vestibular apparatus, the stability of static balance, excluding visual and somatosensory inputs, is measured.

    Time frame: Day 1

  3. Dual Task Performance Test: Walking (Dynamic Balance) Tasks

    1. Vestibular Task (GKST + Head Movement): During the standard GKST, participants will be asked to perform rhythmic head movements to the accompaniment of a metronome to assess the effect of the vestibular system on mobility. 2. Proprioceptive Task (GKST + Soft Surface): To manipulate ground proprioception, the standard GKST protocol will be repeated on a soft foam surface of a specific density instead of a hard surface. This method will record walking stability and task completion time under conditions where proprioceptive feedback is limited.

    Time frame: Day 1

  4. Berg Balance Scale

    Participants' objective balance and fall risk will be measured using the BDI (Brain Stability Inventory). The scale consists of 14 different functional balance tasks, including sitting, standing, reaching, and turning, and is evaluated on a scale of 0-56 points. Lower scores indicate an increased risk of falls.

    Time frame: Day 1

  5. Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale

    The 16-item Fall Fear and Balance Confidence Scale (FDSS) will be administered to assess fall fear and balance confidence during daily living activities. The FDSS consists of 16 items scored between 0 and 100. Each item asks the individual to rate their confidence in their ability to maintain their balance without falling during a specific activity, on a scale of 0 (not confident at all) to 100 (completely confident). The total score is calculated by taking the arithmetic mean of all items, resulting in a value between 0 and 100. A higher total score indicates that the individual has high balance confidence and reduced fall fear during daily living activities.

    Time frame: Day 1

  6. Modified Fatigue Impact Scale

    To assess the impact of fatigue on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functions, a 21-item fatigue risk assessment scale will be used. The fatigue risk assessment scale consists of 21 items that inquire about fatigue experiences over the past four weeks. Each item evaluates the impact of fatigue on daily life using a Likert-type scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (always). The total score obtainable from the scale ranges from 0 to 84. An increase in the total score indicates a greater negative impact of fatigue on the patient's physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functions, and a greater impact on quality of life.

    Time frame: Day 1

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Araştırma ve Uygulama Hastanesi
    Isparta, 32260, Turkey (Türkiye)
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — The data for the primary and secondary objectives of the research will be compared after they are received.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Status
Not yet recruiting→Recruiting
changed Nov 2, 2026
Sites
1 site added — first site in Turkey (Türkiye)
Show site
  • Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Araştırma ve Uygulama Hastanesi · Isparta, Turkey (Türkiye)
Nov 2, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Nov 2, 2026
    Not yet recruiting→Recruiting
    1 site added — first site in Turkey (Türkiye)
    Show site
    • Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Araştırma ve Uygulama Hastanesi · Isparta, Turkey (Türkiye)
    + 1 other change: date precision

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07815990
Responsible party
Aleyna Özdamar Yücel (Lecturer, MSc, Suleyman Demirel University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 11, 2026
Start date
Sep 15, 2026
Primary completion
Jan 15, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
May 15, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 2, 2026

Study contacts

ALEYNA OZDAMAR YUCEL, MSc
Contact
aleynayucel@sdu.edu.tr
+90 507 950 74 57
MEHMET DURAY, associate professor
Contact
mehmetduray@sdu.edu.tr
+90 506 473 11 65
MELİKE DOĞAN ÜNLÜ, NEUROLOGIST ASSOCIATE PROFESSO
study director · Suleyman Demirel University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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