Abstract
Hispanic/Latino individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) face greater disease burden and comorbidity due to limited healthcare access, underrepresentation in research, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Exercise training could manage health outcomes, but existing intervention research lacks Hispanic/Latino representation.
We propose a feasibility and efficacy study of a theory-based, remotely delivered exercise training intervention for enhancing health outcomes in Hispanics/Latinos with MS. This study involves a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design and compares an MS-specific exercise training program with an active control condition over a 4-month period in a sample of 50 individuals who self-identified as Hispanic/Latino with MS. The sample will be recruited through MS networks and healthcare organizations serving a high proportion of Hispanics/Latinos with MS. The primary outcomes include feasibility metrics (i.e., process, resources, management, and scientific), secondary outcomes include potential effects of the exercise training program on health-related outcomes (i.e., physical and cognitive function, MS symptoms, and quality of life), and tertiary outcomes include the potential association of SDOH on feasibility and intervention efficacy on health-related outcomes.
The anticipated results of this study will provide evidence for the feasibility and initial efficacy of a remote exercise training intervention for Hispanics/Latinos with MS, a demographic often facing significant barriers to healthcare and rehabilitation. This research lays the groundwork for a fully powered RCT to support the efficacy of the approach and subsequent wider implementation. If successful, this project may significantly improve health and MS disease outcomes for Hispanics/Latinos with MS.
April 7, 2025, Version 2; World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set (see Appendix 1); SPIRIT Checklist (see Appendix 2).
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05998616).