Walking adaptability and foot tapping measurements in people with multiple sclerosis
Official title: Measurement Properties of the Walking Adaptability Ladder Test and Foot Tap Test in People With Multiple Sclerosis With Mild Disability
Run by Hasselt University · NCT07505355 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This test compares the Walking Adaptability Ladder Test and Foot Tap Test in people with mild multiple sclerosis and matched healthy adults to see if they reliably detect subtle walking and motor changes.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Hasselt University Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Diepenbeek and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07505355 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults with a confirmed MS diagnosis, EDSS 0–3.5, relapse-free for at least 30 days, and without other neurological, orthopedic, or visual problems that affect gait.
✕Probably not a fit
People with higher disability (EDSS >3.5), recent relapses, significant cognitive impairment, or other conditions affecting gait are unlikely to benefit from these specific measurement results.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study will recruit 50 people with multiple sclerosis (EDSS 0–3.5) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls across Spain, Italy, and Belgium to examine measurement properties of the Walking Adaptability Ladder Test (WALT) and Foot Tap Test (FTT). In Spain, WALT, FTT, balance, and gait-specific measures will be repeated one week apart to estimate test–retest reliability, while validation analyses will combine single-time-point measures from collaborating centers. Objective recordings will include inertial measurement units alongside clinical tests such as the Timed 25-Foot Walk, 6-Minute Walk, and Mini-BESTest, plus the Symbol Digit Modalities Test for processing speed. Patient-reported outcomes on walking limitations, fatigue, balance confidence, and falls will be collected to relate test performance to everyday function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these measures could give clinicians more sensitive tools to spot early mobility decline and tailor interventions sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Gait adaptability and tapping tests have shown promise in other neurological populations, but applying the WALT specifically in multiple sclerosis remains relatively novel and not yet widely validated.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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
Where it's running
-
REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center
Diepenbeek, Belgium Recruiting -
Laboratorio di Biomeccanica ed Ergonomia industriale Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Cagliari, Italy Recruiting -
Hospital Universitario de Ponferrada El Bierzo
León, Ponferrada, Spain Recruiting -
University of Leon
León, Ponferrada, Spain Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Zuhal Abasiyanik, PhD
- Email: zuhal.abasiyanik@uhasselt.be
- Phone: +32(0)11 26 93 06
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.