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NCT Number: NCT07193602

VR-based Dexterity Training in MS

The aim of the study is to investigate if a specifically developed home-based dexterity training intervention using a Virtual Reality (VR) Headset (Meta quest 2) improves impaired manual dexterity in persons with multiple sclerosis.

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Key information

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Immune System Diseases Nervous System Diseases

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

MS Centre, Neurology, University hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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About this study

Subjects will be recruited during regular visits at the MS centre of the Luzerner Kantonsspital, Switzerland or at the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital Basel. Ethical approval will be obtained, and the trial will be registered in the clinicaltrials.gov database. Patients must sign informed consent prior to study entry (=Screening). If patients are eligible at screening as defined in the Inclusion- and Exclusion criteria, all primary and secondary outcome measurements will be performed at Baseline. Subjects will be randomized 1:1 in Group 1 (Training intervention) or Group 2 (Sham-Intervention) and instructed into the respective training. After 4 weeks of training, all primary and secondary outcome measurements will be repeated, and the study ends.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • MS patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) or primary progressive MS (PPMS) according to the revised McDonald's criteria (Thompson et al. 2017)
  • Age between 18 and 75 years
  • Written informed consent signed by the subject must be obtained prior to study start
  • Patient must complain about MS related impaired manual dexterity negatively affecting ADL and/or QoL
  • Patients must have Arm function in multiple sclerosis questionnaire (AMSQ) score >41

Exclusion criteria

  • A relapse that started within 60 days prior to screening
  • Rapidly progressive disease
  • Any disease/condition that impaired manual dexterity besides MS
  • Any disease other than MS that could possibly explain the patient's signs and symptoms
  • Medical or psychiatric conditions that compromise the ability to comply with the protocol, or to complete the study
  • History of epilepsy or epileptic seizures
  • A history of drug abuse in the 12 months prior to screening

Treatment and study plan

VR-based dexterity training in MS

Device

Training of limited manual dexterity in people with multiple sclerosis through a specially developed home-based dexterity training programm using a virtual headset

mediation program

Other

Sham Training is the comparator. The Sham group is performing a commercially available mediation programm TRIPP:

Primary outcomes

  1. Arm Function Score in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    The Arm Function in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (AMSQ) measures manual dexterity in patients with MS. It contains 31 questions on a unidimensional scale. One final sum score is obtained with higher scores indicating more dexterous difficulties. The minimum score is 31 (no limitation) and a maximum score of 186 (extreme limitation).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time for completing the Nine-hole-Peg-Test (9HPT)

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    The Nine-hole-Peg-Test (9HPT) is reliable (ICC values 0.80-0.99), valid and sensitive in detecting impaired dexterity in patients with MS. Patients were seated at a table with a shallow container holding nine pegs and a plastic block with nine empty holes. All pegs had to be put one at a time into the holes and then removed again one at a time into the shallow container. The time to complete the task was recorded twice on both hands and mean values were taken for each hand. No minimum or maximum cutoff values were defined. Higher completion times indicate poorer performance.

  2. Time for completion the Coin rotation task (CRT)

    Time frame: 4 Weeks

    The Coin rotation task (CRT) has been validated in assessing manual dexterity in patients with MS . Patients had to rotate a 50 Swiss Rappen coin (corresponding to a dime or 2-cent Euro coin) as fast as possible between their thumb, index and middle finger. The time to perform 20 half turns was measured twice on both hands and mean values were taken for each hand. No minimum or maximum cutoff values were defined. Higher completion times indicate poorer performance.

  3. The highest strength value resulting from the Handheld JAMAR dynamometer

    Time frame: 4 Weeks

    The Handheld JAMAR dynamometer is a reliable (ICC values 0.85 - 0.98) and valid test to measures isometric grip strength of the hands in healthy subjects and in MS patients. It is performed in an upright seating position with 90° flexion of the elbow next to the body. The highest value (kilograms force) of two maximum voluntary grip strength movements was taken for each hand. No minimum or maximum cutoff values were defined. Higher values indicate better performance.

  4. Value resulting from the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29 (MSIS 29)

    Time frame: 4 Weeks

    The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29 (MSIS 29) is valid and reliable in measuring the impact of MS on ADL. It contains 29 items comprising to a physical (MSIS-29 physical) and psychological impact scale (MSIS-29 psychological). All items are scored from 'not at all' to 'extremely' on a five-point Likert scale. The physical subscale ranges from 20 to 100, and the psychological from 9 to 45. Higher values indicate more impact.

  5. Scores of the Electronic Neurostatus-Expanded Disability Status Scale (eEDSS) (D'Souza M et al. 2020)

    Time frame: 4 Weeks

    Comparing the subscores of the upper extremity

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Christian Kamm, Prof. Dr. med.

CONTACT

[email protected]

0041 41 205 29 69

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Christian Kamm

Other

Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Registry information

Official study title

Home-based Virtual Reality (VR) Headset-based Dexterity Training in Multiple Sclerosis: a Randomized-controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Sep 26, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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