Shock waves to the feet may help MS patients walk steadier
NCT ID NCT07514104
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether applying shock wave therapy to the soles of the feet could improve balance and walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Fifty-four participants received the therapy three times a week for six weeks. Researchers measured changes in foot sensation, balance, and gait patterns. The goal was to see if this non-invasive treatment could help manage MS-related movement problems.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to improve balance and walking in people with multiple sclerosis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 54 participants. The results may not apply to everyone with MS, and the therapy may not provide lasting benefits.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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54 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2021
- Finished
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Oct 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis * Spasticity level below 1+ according to the Modified Ashworth Scale * Ability to walk independently or with assistive devices to perform the 3-step gait protocol * Willingness to participate in a 6-week intervention involving bilateral plantar ESWT * Stable medical condition without a recent relapse within the last 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of severe cognitive impairment that prevents following test instructions * Other neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, polyneuropathy) that could interfere with sensory or gait assessments * Presence of open wounds, active infections, or skin integrity issues on the plantar surface of the feet * Contraindications for Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Fırat University
Elâzığ, 23100, Turkey (Türkiye)
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