Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42265947›Full record

Trial reportMultiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)2026

Task-oriented virtual reality and brain functional plasticity in progressive multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial on upper limb rehabilitation.

Mehrnaz Hamedani, Giada Lombardi, Giacomo Boffa, Caterina Pistarini, Federico Maria Cossa, Elisabetta Capello, Simona Malucchi, Arianna Anselmino, Elena Maria Fiabane, Alessia Di Sapio and 17 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

27 authors.

Mehrnaz HamedaniDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9371-4832
Giada LombardiDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK.
Giacomo BoffaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy; Neurologic Clinic, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Metropolitana, Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2220-9422
Caterina PistariniDepartment of Neurorehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
Federico Maria CossaDepartment of Neurologic Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Veruno, Veruno, Italy.
Elisabetta CapelloDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy; Neurologic Clinic, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Metropolitana, Genova, Italy.
Simona MalucchiDepartment of Neurology and CRESM, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (Torino), Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3624-5715
Arianna AnselminoDepartment of Neurologic Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Veruno, Veruno, Italy.
Elena Maria FiabanePsychology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS , Pavia, Italy.
Alessia Di SapioDepartment of Neurology and CRESM, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (Torino), Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5575-7567
Ilaria PoirèNeurologic Clinic, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Metropolitana, Genova, Italy.
Chiara SciollaDepartment of Neurology and CRESM, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (Torino), Italy.
Cinzia CalauttiPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Genova Nervi, Genova, Italy.
Fabio IncolluPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Genova Nervi, Genova, Italy.
Francesca SpadaPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Genova Nervi, Genova, Italy.
Antonio BertolottoNeurology, Koelliker Hospital, Torino, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7052-1907
Isabella SpringhettiNeurorehabilitation and Spinal Units, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
Antonio NardoneNeurorehabilitation and Spinal Units, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Riccardo SollazzoNeurorehabilitation and Spinal Units, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
Giulia FazioPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Genova Nervi, Genova, Italy.
Ginevra GalettiPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Genova Nervi, Genova, Italy.
Maria Pia SormaniDepartment of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6892-104X
Andrea BoghiNeuroradiology, Ospedale San Giovanni Bosco, Torino, Italy.
Marta PonzanoDepartment of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, Health and Health Professions, Link Campus University, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4091-4686
Matilde IngleseDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy; Neurologic Clinic, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Metropolitana, Genova, Italy.
Maria CellerinoDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4359-9872
Gianluigi MancardiDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy; Department of Neurorehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMotor rehabilitation effectiveness in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) remains uncertain. We assessed whether task-oriented (TO) rehabilitation, with or without non-immersive virtual reality, improves upper limb function in PMS and evaluated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes related to motor performance.

methodsEighty-one progressive multiple sclerosis patients on B-cell depleting therapy were randomized to task-oriented rehabilitation with virtual reality (TO-VR), TO rehabilitation, or passive mobilization (CG) for 8 weeks. Upper extremity performance was measured with the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), AbilHand Test (ABILHAND), and Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36). Upper limb function, neurological status, and MRI were evaluated at baseline, after rehabilitation, and at 3 months.

resultsSeventy-nine patients completed the study. No difference was observed in 9-HPT, but in the whole sample, ABILHAND improved post-treatment (

conclusionIn PMS treated with high-efficacy therapy, TO rehabilitation, particularly when combined with VR, can improve motor function, inducing functional gains and plasticity in cerebral networks.

Indexed as

BrainMultiple Sclerosis, Chronic ProgressiveNeuronal PlasticityUpper ExtremityVirtual RealityAdultFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedTreatment Outcomeanti-B monoclonal antibodiesfunctional MRIProgressive multiple sclerosisrehabilitationtask-orientedupper limbvirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID42265947
PMCPMC13498747

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