Vascular Mechanisms, Functional Outcomes, & Exercise Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis With Hypertension

Summary

The goal of this study is to determine if 12 weeks of cycling exercise training at home will improve three parameters: 1) blood pressure, 2) cognition, and 3) walking ability among persons with multiple sclerosis who have high blood pressure, when compared to a group that engages in a 12-week home-based stretching program. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Can home-based cycling exercise training improve blood pressure by increasing blood vessel dilation in people with multiple sclerosis? 2. Can cycling exercise training improve cognition and walking mobility in people with multiple sclerosis by improving blood pressure? The investigators will compare home-based cycling training to stretching to see if cycling training improves cognition, walking mobility, blood pressure, and fitness in people with multiple sclerosis. Participation in this study will take 13-14 weeks, with participants being randomized (like flipping a coin, a 50-50 chance of being in either group) to the home-based cycling training or the stretching group. All participants will be asked to * Visit the laboratory two times, one before the beginning of the intervention (home-base training and stretching group) and one at the end of the intervention. * During visits, participants will complete tests related to cognition, walking mobility, blood pressure and fitness.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Persons with confirmed multiple sclerosis diagnosis with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores of 4-6.5, characteristic of 2nd stage of multiple sclerosis;
* Hypertension defined as elevated, or Stage 1 or 2, as per the 2017 American Heart Association guidelines (brachial systolic blood pressure \> 120 mmHg or brachial diastolic blood pressure \> 80 mmHg)
* Persons who are physically inactive (less than 60 min/wk of physical activity);
* Persons with body mass index \< 40 kg/m2;
* Persons who are not confined to a wheel chair;
* Multiple sclerosis relapse in the past 30 days;
* People with stable pharmacotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

* People with additional cardiovascular comorbidities;
* People with type 1 diabetes mellitus;
* Physician disapproval to participating in the study;
* Space constraints to fit a cycle ergometer at the home of prospective participants.

Conditions2

Locations1 site

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