Short Sprint Interval Training in People With Multiple Sclerosis

NCT07804264 | Recruiting

• 3 other identifiers: 20633RYC2021-031098-IULE-13-B
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a short sprint interval training protocol on a cycle ergometer can improve physical function, walking, muscle strength, exercise capacity, fatigue, cognitive processing speed, and patient-reported outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Does short sprint interval training improve walking performance, lower-limb coordination, muscle strength, exercise capacity, fatigue, and cognitive processing speed in people with multiple sclerosis?
2. 2.How do participants respond to short sprint interval training in terms of heart rate, power, cadence, perceived exertion, and affective valence?
3. 3.What adverse events or unintended effects, if any, occur during the intervention?
4. 4.Be randomly assigned to either a short sprint interval training group or a usual physical activity group.
5. 5.Complete assessments before and after the 2-week training period.
6. 6.Continue their usual physical activity if they are assigned to the control group.
7. 7.Complete 6 supervised exercise sessions over 2 weeks if they are assigned to the short sprint interval training group.
8. 8.During each exercise session, perform short 5-second high-intensity cycling sprints on a recumbent cycle ergometer, separated by recovery periods.
9. 9.Complete walking, strength, stepping, calf endurance, fatigue, and cognitive processing speed assessments.

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis; Short sprint interval training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Change in Symbol Digit Modalities Test Oral Score

  Cognitive processing speed will be assessed through the oral version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). The outcome will be reported as the total number of correct responses. Scores range from 0 to 110, with higher scores indicating better cognitive processing speed. Change from baseline to Week 4 will be evaluated.

  Baseline and Week 4

• Change in Fatigue Severity Scale Score

  Fatigue severity will be assessed through the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The FSS includes 9 items, each scored from 1, indicating strongly disagree, to 7, indicating strongly agree. The total score is calculated as the mean of the 9 items and ranges from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity. Change from baseline to Week 4 will be evaluated.

  Baseline and Week 4

• Change in Timed 25 Foot Walk Time

  Walking speed will be assessed through the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). This test will be performed forwards and backwards, at a comfortable pace and as fast as safely possible, with 2 trials for each condition. Time will be recorded in seconds using a stopwatch. The outcome will be reported as the lowest time recorded for each condition, with lower times indicating a faster walking speed. Change from baseline to Week 4 will be evaluated.

  Baseline to Week 4

• Change in the Six-Spot Step Test Time

  Dynamic walking performance and lower-limb coordination will be assessed through the Six-Spot Step Test (SSST). The SSST will be performed after a familiarization trial as fast as safely possible for two trials with each leg. Time will be recorded in seconds using a stopwatch, with lower times indicating better lower-limb coordination and walking performance. The outcome will be reported as the lowest time recorded for each leg. Change from baseline to Week 4 will be evaluated.

  Baseline and Week 4

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Handgrip Strength

  Baseline and Week 4

• Change in Lower-limb Muscle Power

  Baseline to Week 4

• Change in Lower-limb endurance and strength

  Baseline to Week 4

• Change in Cardiorespiratory fitness

  Baseline and Week 4

• Change in Plantar flexor strength-endurance

  Baseline to Week 4

Other Outcomes (16)

• Cadence during the intervention sessions

  During each sprint interval training session, up to 2 weeks

• Heart rate during the intervention sessions

  During each sprint interval training session, up to 2 weeks

• Power during intervention sessions

  During each sprint interval training session, up to 2 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Short Sprint Interval Training Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Short sprint interval training

Usual Physical Activity Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm will not receive any intervention and will be asked to continue their usual physical activity during the 2-week study period.

Interventions

Short sprint interval training OTHER

Participants will perform a supervised short sprint interval training program on a recumbent cycle ergometer for 2 weeks, with 3 sessions per week. Each session will include a 5-minute warm-up at an easy intensity, followed by repeated 5-second high-intensity cycling sprints separated by 40 seconds of active recovery. The number of sprints will increase progressively across sessions from 5 to 9, with a reduced number of sprints in the final session.

Short Sprint Interval Training Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis according to the revised McDonald criteria; Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0-3.5.
• Age 18-65 years.
• No multiple sclerosis relapse or exacerbation in the previous month.

You may not qualify if:

• Neurological disease other than multiple sclerosis.
• Cognitive impairment preventing completion of tests or questionnaires.
• Neurological, orthopedic, or visual impairments affecting gait.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de León: lead
• Hasselt University: collaborator
• University of Leon: collaborator
• El Bierzo Hospital: collaborator
• Sil Multiple Sclerosis Association: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ule Motion Lab

Ponferrada, León, 24416, Spain

RECRUITING

Related Publications (23)

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Nervous System Diseases; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Alexandre Boullosa Álvarez

CONTACT

+34 987 29 30 00; dboua@unileon.es

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: "Ramón y Cajal" Fellow

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2026
• First Posted: September 4, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2026
• Study Completion: October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

ES (1)