An interventional study of Tai Chi Exercises Program and Frenkel Home Exercises in Multiple Sclerosis, sponsored by Pamukkale University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 20 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by Pamukkale University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on cognitive functions, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic neurological disease characterized by demyelination within the central nervous system and is frequently associated with cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments.
Individuals diagnosed with MS were assigned to either an 8-week Tai Chi exercise program or a home-based Frenkel exercise program. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which comprises the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), while depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
The study aimed to investigate the effects of Tai Chi exercise compared with a home-based exercise program on cognitive performance, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in individuals with MS. The findings may contribute to the evidence base for non-pharmacological rehabilitation approaches in MS management.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated neurological disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Cognitive impairment, fatigue, and depression are among the most common and disabling symptoms in individuals with MS, significantly affecting their quality of life. In addition to pharmacological treatments, exercise-based rehabilitation approaches have gained increasing attention in recent years.
This randomized controlled study investigated the effects of a structured Tai Chi exercise program on cognitive functions, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in individuals with MS. Participants diagnosed with MS were randomly allocated to either a Tai Chi intervention group or an active control group receiving a home-based Frenkel exercise program. Both groups continued their standard medical care throughout the study.
The Tai Chi intervention was conducted over 8 weeks, with two supervised sessions per week. Each session lasted approximately 50 minutes and included warm-up exercises, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down activities.
Cognitive functions were assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which comprises three tests: the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), assessing information processing speed; the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), assessing verbal learning and memory; and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), assessing visuospatial learning and memory. Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), while depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
The primary outcome was cognitive performance following the intervention, while secondary outcomes included changes in fatigue and depressive symptoms. All outcome measures were assessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period.
This study aimed to contribute to the evidence regarding the potential role of Tai Chi as a non-pharmacological rehabilitation approach for managing cognitive and psychological symptoms in individuals with MS.
3,264 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 659 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 44 is below the median of 50 across 2,201 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.
Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →Pamukkale University is the lead sponsor of 342 studies on the registry; 61 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
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A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
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Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
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Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
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Participants received an 8-week Tai Chi intervention program designed for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. The program included coordinated body movements, breathing control, and mindful movement practice, aiming to improve cognitive function, reduce fatigue, and improve depression levels in individuals with MS. The program consisted of progressively taught 8 movements selected from the basic 10 Yang-style forms, focusing on controlled weight shifting, postural alignment, and whole-body coordination. Each session consisted of a warm-up phase with general stretching exercises, a main Tai Chi practice component with form repetition and rest breaks as needed, and a cool-down phase including stretching and controlled breathing exercises.
Other: Tai Chi Exercises Program
Participants in this group received an 8-week home exercise program consisting of Frenkel coordination exercises. They were instructed to perform the prescribed exercises independently at home throughout the study period. Participants did not participate in the Tai Chi intervention. The program served as an active comparator for evaluating the effects of Tai Chi on cognitive function, fatigue, and depression in individuals with MS.
Other: Frenkel Home Exercises
Tai Chi was administered for 8 weeks, 2 days per week, for a total of 16 sessions. Each session lasted approximately 50 minutes and included warm-up stretching exercises (10 minutes), Tai Chi practice (30 minutes), and cool-down exercises (10 minutes). Sessions were conducted in groups of 2-3 participants under physiotherapist supervision.
Participants performed a home-based Frenkel exercise program for 8 weeks, twice weekly. Each session lasted approximately 15-30 minutes, excluding rest periods. Participants received an instructional booklet and an exercise logbook to record their exercise sessions. Adherence was monitored through telephone follow-up calls every two weeks.
Cognitive functions assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS)
Cognitive functions were assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which includes the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R).
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention
Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)
Information processing speed was assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention.
California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II)
Verbal learning and memory were assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II). Higher scores indicate better verbal learning and memory performance.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention.
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R)
Visuospatial learning and memory were assessed using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). Higher scores indicate better visuospatial learning and memory performance.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention.
Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) score
The impact of fatigue on physical, cognitive, and social functioning was assessed using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). Lower scores indicate less fatigue-related impact.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Lower scores indicate fewer depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention
Plan to share: No
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