ArticlePilot and feasibility studies2021
Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a falls prevention programme.
Article in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Safety of exercise training in multiple sclerosis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2023Pooled it
- Feasibility and outcome of the fewer falls in multiple sclerosis intervention: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Measuring health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: comparing the acceptability, validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-3L and MSIS-8D.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Linking Pathogenesis to Fall Risk in Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of internal medicine research · 2025Article
- A Falls Prevention Program for People After Stroke in Guyana: An International Collaboration.Physical therapy · 2024Article
- Development of Fewer Falls in MS-An Online, Theory-Based, Fall Prevention Self-Management Programme for People With Multiple Sclerosis.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024Article
- Self-management of falls in people with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitation · 2023Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundBalance, mobility impairments and falls are problematic for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The "Balance Right in MS (BRiMS)" intervention, a 13-week home and group-based exercise and education programme, aims to improve balance and minimise falls. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of undertaking a multi-centre randomised controlled trial and to collect the necessary data to design a definitive trial.
methodsThis randomised controlled feasibility study recruited from four United Kingdom NHS clinical neurology services. Patients ≥ 18 years with secondary progressive MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale 4 to 7) reporting more than two falls in the preceding 6 months were recruited. Participants were block-randomised to either a manualised 13-week education and exercise programme (BRiMS) plus usual care, or usual care alone. Feasibility assessment evaluated recruitment and retention rates, adherence to group assignment and data completeness. Proposed outcomes for the definitive trial (including impact of MS, mobility, quality of life and falls) and economic data were collected at baseline, 13 and 27 weeks, and participants completed daily paper falls diaries.
resultsFifty-six participants (mean age 59.7 years, 66% female, median EDSS 6.0) were recruited in 5 months; 30 randomised to the intervention group. Ten (18%) participants withdrew, 7 from the intervention group. Two additional participants were lost to follow up at the final assessment point. Completion rates were > 98% for all outcomes apart from the falls diary (return rate 62%). After adjusting for baseline score, mean intervention-usual care between-group differences for the potential primary outcomes at week 27 were MS Walking Scale-12v2: - 7.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] - 17.2 to 1.8) and MS Impact Scale-29v2: physical 0.6 (CI - 7.8 to 9), psychological - 0.4 (CI - 9.9 to 9). In total, 715 falls were reported, rate ratio (intervention:usual care) for falls 0.81 (0.41 to 2.26) and injurious falls 0.44 (0.41 to 2.23).
conclusionsProcedures were practical, and retention, programme engagement and outcome completion rates satisfied a priori progression criteria. Challenges were experienced in completion and return of daily falls diaries. Refinement of methods for reporting falls is therefore required, but we consider a full trial to be feasible.
trial registrationISRCTN13587999 Date of registration: 29 September 2016.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.