Can exercise reduce disability in peripheral neuropathy?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13311697 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13311697 |
| Protocol serial number | GBS2011/8 |
| Sponsor | King's College London (UK) |
| Funder | Guillain Barré Syndrome Support Group (UK) ref: GBS2011/8 |
- Submission date
- 30/08/2012
- Registration date
- 06/12/2012
- Last edited
- 21/11/2018
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Many people with inflammatory immune mediated neuropathies (IN) experience long term activity limitation (or disability) and may need health and social services as well as informal care from family or friends. Long term management varies but observational studies suggest that exercise may improve activity limitation. The aim of this study is to establish the efficacy and cost effectiveness of a tailored home exercise programme (tHEP) in 54 people with stable inflammatory neuropathy compared to information and usual care only.
Who can participate?
Adults with a diagnosis of Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) or paraproteinemic demyelinating neuropathy (PDN) who have had no changes in their symptoms or treatment in the last six months. Participants should also be able to walk at least 10 metres, with or without walking aids.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomised to either the tailored exercise group or the advice group.
Participants in the advice group will receive information about exercise and usual care.
Participants in the tailored exercise group will have an assessment with a physiotherapist who will prescribe an exercise regime based on their specific requirements and preferences, incorporating aerobic and strengthening exercise. Participants will complete questionnaires measuring fatigue, strength, endurance, mood, health beliefs, and quality of life at baseline, after 12 weeks and then after 12 months. Demographic data and information regarding service use, informal care and health status
will also be collected and used to evaluate cost effectiveness of the intervention. Some participants will be invited to take part in semi-structured interviews to investigate the acceptability of the tailored home exercise programme (tHEP) and factors affecting adherence to it.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will be observed undertaking exercise. In addition participants undertaking exercise who have residual weakness or sensory loss that places specific joints at biomechanical risk of injury or imbalance, will be referred for orthotic prescription prior to exercise.
The burden on participants will differ between intervention and usual care groups. However, all participants will experience the burden of the time demand in completing study questionnaires.
Where is the study run from?
The study is taking place at various NHS hospitals across the UK, primarily in the South East and West Midlands.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study is expected to start recruiting in September 2012 and recruitment will close in December 2013.
Who is funding the study?
Guillain Barré Syndrome Support Group, grant ref: GBS2011/8
Who is the main contact?
Dr Jane Petty
jane.petty@kcl.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
King's College London
Shepherd's House
Guy's Campus
London
SE1 1UL
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)20 7848 6331 |
|---|---|
| claire.white@kcl.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multi-centre randomised controlled researcher-blind trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Observer blind randomised controlled trial of a tailored home exercise programme versus usual care in people with stable inflammatory neuropathy |
| Study acronym | Home-based exercise for Inflammatory Neuropathy Trial (HINT) |
| Study objectives | Many people with inflammatory immune mediated neuropathies (IN) experience long term activity limitation (or disability) and may need health and social services as well as informal care from family or friends. Long term management varies but observational studies suggest that exercise may improve activity limitation. Following a systematic literature review and a pilot feasibility study the proposed randomised controlled assessor blind trial aims to establish the efficacy and cost effectiveness of a tailored home exercise programme (tHEP) on activity limitation in 54 people with stable IN compared to information and usual care only. The tHEP will be based on physiotherapy assessment and participants preferences and will incorporate aerobic and strengthening exercise. The primary outcome of improving activity limitation and secondary outcomes of fatigue, strength, endurance, mood, health beliefs, and quality of life will be assessed at baseline, after completion of the intervention or usual care and at 12 months. Demographic data and information regarding service use, informal care and health status will also be collected and used to evaluate cost effectiveness of the intervention. Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of people from the exercise group will investigate the acceptability of the tHEP and factors affecting adherence to it. Null hypothesis: There will be no difference in the primary outcome of disability as measured by the Overall neuropathy limitations scale (ONLS)or Rasch Overall Disability Scale (RODS) between participants with IN undertaking a tailored home exercise programme (tHEP) and those receiving usual care. Alternative hypotheses: The primary outcome of disability as measured by the Overall neuropathy limitations scale (ONLS) or Rasch Overall Disability Scale (RODS) will be better for participants with IN undertaking a tHEP than those receiving usual care. |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES - London City and East, 15/05/2012, ref: 12/LO/0155 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), paraproteinemic demyelinating neuropathy (PDN) |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomised to either the tailored exercise group or the advice group. Participants in the advice group will receive information about exercise and usual care. Participants in the tailored exercise group will have an assessment with a physiotherapist who will prescribe an exercise regime based on their specific requirements and preferences, incorporating aerobic and strengthening exercise. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Overall neuropathy limitations score (ONLS) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
All secondary outcome measures except the client service receipt inventory (CSRI) are to be assessed at end of intervention and 12 month follow-up: |
| Completion date | 31/12/2013 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 70 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Are adults with stable motor neuropathy with or without sensory neuropathy, as a result of GBS, CIDP or PDN diagnosed using established criteria (and where PDN is defined as the combination of a demyelinating neuropathy, serum antibodies to myelin associated glycoprotein, and an IgM monoclonal gammopathy with no evidence of haematological malignancy) 2. Are able to walk 10 metres, with or without walking aids 3. Are at least 1 year since onset if they have GBS 4. Have no change in self reported disability, immunotherapy or medication for neuropathic pain in the previous 6 months (except dose of azathioprine must not have changed for 12 months). Patients receiving regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or plasma exchange will be assessed at the same time points after treatment to avoid fluctuations due to time since last treatment. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. They score zero on the primary outcome measure 2. They have any other unstable medical conditions that 2.1. Affect activity limitation 2.2. Prevents them from exercising 2.3. Would make it unsafe to exercise 3. They are pregnant 4. Adults who are unable to consent for themselves 5. Are not able to understand spoken and/or written English or not able to communicate responses to questionnaires |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/09/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
SE1 1UL
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 21/08/2015 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
