Effects of Actual and Imagined Music-cued Gait Training on Motor Functioning and Brain Activity in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol of a Randomised Parallel Multicentre Trial

Journal

BMJ Open

Year

2022

Abstract

Introduction Motor imagery (MI) refers to the mental rehearsal of a physical action without muscular activity. Our previous studies showed that MI combined with rhythmic-auditory cues improved walking, fatigue and quality of life (QoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Largest improvements were seen after music and verbally cued MI. It is unclear whether actual cued gait training achieves similar effects on walking as cued MI in pwMS. Furthermore, in pwMS it is unknown whether any of these interventions leads to changes in brain activation. The purpose of this study is therefore to compare the effects of imagined and actual cued gait training and a combination thereof on walking, brain activation patterns, fatigue, cognitive and emotional functioning in pwMS. Methods and analysis A prospective double-blind randomised parallel multicentre trial will be conducted in 132 pwMS with mild to moderate disability. Randomised into three groups, participants will receive music, metronome and verbal cueing, plus MI of walking (1), MI combined with actual gait training (2) or actual gait training (3) for 30 min, 4× per week for 4 weeks. Supported by weekly phone calls, participants will practise at home, guided by recorded instructions. Primary endpoints will be walking speed (Timed 25-Foot Walk) and distance (2 min Walk Test). Secondary endpoints will be brain activation patterns, fatigue, QoL, MI ability, anxiety, depression, cognitive functioning, music-induced motivation-to-move, pleasure, arousal and self-efficacy. Data will be collected at baseline, postintervention and 3-month follow-up. MRI reference values will be generated using 15 matched healthy controls. Ethics and dissemination This study follows the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials-PRO Extension. Ethical approval was received from the Ethics Committees of the Medical Universities of Innsbruck (1347/2020) and Graz (33-056 ex 20/21), Austria. Results will be disseminated via national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number DRKS00023978.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Anxiety; Cognitive Abilities; Depreassion; Emotional Functioning; Fatigue; Gait; Mobility; Multiple Sclerosis; Recreative Music Methods; Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Quality of Life; Rehabilitation Exercises

Indexed Terms

brain function; depression; gait; motor performance; multiple sclerosis; neurology; rehabilitation medicine; anxiety; arousal; Austria; cognition; controlled study; disability; double blind procedure; EMBASE keywords; fatigue; follow up; human; imagery; intervention study; motivation; multicenter study; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; pleasure; professional standard; prospective study; quality of life; randomized controlled trial; reference value; self concept; walk test; walking; walking speed

Study Type

Randomized Controlled; Trial; Quantitative Methods

Document Type

Article

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