NCT07505355 Measurement Properties of the Walking Adaptability Ladder Test and Foot Tap Test in Multiple Sclerosis
| NCT ID | NCT07505355 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Hasselt University |
| Condition | Multiple Sclerosis |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 100 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-11-10 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-09-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.
This trial targets 100 participants in total. It began in 2025-11-10 with a primary completion date of 2026-09-01.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Walking and motor control impairments are among the most common manifestations experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and may already be present in individuals with mild disability. Subtle changes in walking performance can reflect early disease progression, highlighting the need for sensitive clinical outcome measures that capture complex, real-world mobility. Commonly used assessments primarily quantify time or distance and may lack sensitivity to detect early or subtle functional changes in daily-life walking. Successful everyday mobility requires gait adaptability, defined as the ability to continuously adjust walking patterns in response to environmental or task-related challenges, including the processing of external perturbations and internal factors such as fatigue, balance confidence, and fear of falling. Despite its clinical relevance, gait adaptability is not specifically addressed by currently validated clinical tests in pwMS. The Walking Adaptability Ladder Test (WALT), which challenges the interaction between step length, cadence, and walking speed through continuous adjustments, and the Foot Tap Test (FTT), which assesses lower limb motor control and rhythmic coordination, have demonstrated promising measurement properties in other populations but have not yet been evaluated in pwMS. The primary aim of this study is to examine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the WALT and FTT in pwMS with mild disability. Secondary aims include evaluating the measurement properties of the Balance Recovery Scale and the Gait-Specific Attention Scale in pwMS with mild disability, identifying inertial measurement unit-derived metrics that best discriminate pwMS with low disability from healthy controls, and exploring whether relationships between clinical motor test outcomes and self-reported measures provide complementary insights into subtle gait impairments.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * confirmed diagnosis of definite MS, * relapse free at least 30 days, * Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 3.5 Exclusion Criteria: * diagnosed with neurological disease other than MS * cognitive decline that renders the patient incapable of performing tests and questionnaires. * other neurological, orthopedic, or visual impairments affecting gait
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07505355 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 65 Years, studying Multiple Sclerosis. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07505355 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07505355 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at zuhal.abasiyanik@uhasselt.be for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07505355 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Diepenbeek, Belgium, Cagliari, Italy, León, Spain, León, Spain.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07505355 clinical trial?
NCT07505355 is sponsored by Hasselt University. The trial plans to enroll 100 participants.
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