G35
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Arm 1: Anodal tDCS + Balance Training (Intervention group)
Participants will undergo a 3-week intervention consisting of balance training combined with anodal transcranial direct current stim
Sponsors
University of Konstanz
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (according to established clinical criteria); Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) = 6.0; no relapse within the last 3 months; ability to stand and walk independently (with or without assistive devices); indication for balance training as determined by clinical assessment; ability to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Severe cognitive impairment preventing understanding of instructions; other neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting balance or gait; acute relapse of multiple sclerosis within the last 3 months; contraindications to transcranial direct current stimulation (e.g., implanted electronic devices, active skin lesions at electrode sites); severe comorbid medical conditions limiting participation; pregnancy.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Balance performance, assessed using static posturography (center of pressure sway path) and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), measured at baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 3-week intervention (post-intervention). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Gait performance (velocity and step length), assessed using the OptoGait system during single- and dual-task walking; central sensorimotor integration, assessed using a model-based systems identification approach with virtual reality–based or platform-based perturbations; fear of falling, assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I); mental health, assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28); quality of life, assessed using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54); and adherence to balance training, assessed using self-reported questionnaires, measured at baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after the 3-week intervention (post-intervention), and during follow-up at 2, 4, and 6 months after the intervention. | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactEhsan Amiri
University of Konstanz
Outcome results
None listed