At Home Use of Stimulation Suits for Managing MS Symptoms

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

electro-stimulation suit: In EXOPULSE Mollii Suit is a multi-channel full-body suit with a low energy electrical stimulation - 20 Volt and 20 Hz. It generates 2 milliamp pulses (into 0-10,000 Ohms) with the following parameters: * Pulse width: variable between 25 and 170 μs. * Length of period: 50 ms. * Maximum amplitude: 20 V. It is composed of a control unit, a jacket and pants, with 58 embed-ded electrodes, in direct contact with the skin, and pre-positioned to stimulate 40 key muscle groups. The suit comes in different sizes. A trained medical staff pre-programs which nerves/muscles to be stimulated based on a clinical assessment of the user and the outcome is evaluated through standardized methods. The stimulation program is thus specific to each user.

Usual Care: The rehabilitation therapy that is being offered at the National MS Center Melsbroek, but somewhat reduced/adjusted to make time for initiation and follow-up of using the neuromodulation suit and potentially also during the weeks at home (i.e., rehabilitation being offered by municipalities).

Study summary

This study is being carried out at Multiple Sclerosis (MS) centers to evaluate whether a full-body stimulation suit at home can help people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) reduce symptoms like spasticity (muscle stiffness) and ataxia (poor coordination), and improve daily functioning.

Can pwMS who experience spasticity or ataxia benefit from using a stimulation suit for 6 weeks?

Researchers will compare two groups: an intervention group (who will use the suit) and a control group (who will not use the suit).

Participants in the intervention group will:

* Wear the suit for 6 weeks in total every day or every other day (1 week during their MS center admission and 5 weeks at home).
* Receive their usual care in addition to wearing the suit.
* Undergo clinical tests at the MS center after 1 week and 6 weeks of stimulation.

Participants in the control group will:

* Receive their usual care.
* Undergo clincial tests at the same time points as the other group.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• NHPT+SSST score — After one and six weeks of stimulation for the intervention group. The control group will be assessed at the same time points.
  The primary outcome will be a combined measure of upper and lower extremity motor function, consisting of the Nine Hole Peg Test and the Six Spot step test (labelled NHPT+SSST score). Values are expressed in seconds. A higher score, indicates a worse outcome.

Trial sites (2)

Other trials for the same condition