Our study, Standing Up in MS (SUMS), was a randomised controlled trial which ran from 2015-2017 and involved 140 people with MS. Participants were randomly allocated to either a home-based, self-managed standing programme (with advice and support), along with their usual care or to usual care alone.
Participants were asked to stand three times a week over 20 weeks. A range of outcomes, including motor function and balance, was measured at intervals throughout the study and compared between the two groups. A qualitative study, which ran concurrently, explored the experience of using a frame for people with MS and their standing assistants (usually their spouse).
Our research findings
- Access the results of the SUMS study published in the Lancet Neurology Vol 18, Issue 8, August 2019 pages 736-747 (link to paper)
- Access the results of the qualitative component of the SUMS study published open access in BMJ Open.
- The study design is described in detail in this protocol paper
SUMS protocol BMC Neurology 2016
Useful articles
Multiple Sclerosis Trust Way Ahead newsletter , 'Oswestry standing frames'- Disability and Rehabilitation journal article, 'A pilot mixed methods investigation of the use of Oswestry standing frames in the homes of nine people with severe multiple sclerosis'.
- The methodology which was used for
developing the Narrative account is described in this paper.
Talks, conferences and presentations
Enhancing physical activity and quality of life in people with severe physical disability: Could standing frame programmes help? - SUMS study summary of results from the MS Trust Conference 2018
- RealTalk MS, a podcast hosted by Jon Strum. Episode 99, talks about the SUMS study results, as well as some other interesting areas of MS research.
- MS Trust conference 2021: Jenny Freeman, Wendy Hendrie and Rachel Dennett talk about SUMS.