Coming soon: RE-TRAIN-HSP – Home-based training for people with HSP

Starting in September 2025, Life4HSP and Radboudumc will launch the RE‑TRAIN‑HSP study: a new and promising project for people with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). This initiative offers a low-threshold, personalized way to improve fitness and mobility from home, with remote guidance.

Why this study?

HSP is a rare neurological condition that causes progressive stiffness and weakness in the legs. Physical activity is essential to maintain mobility and independence for as long as possible. Yet access to professional support or suitable training isn’t always easy. RE‑TRAIN‑HSP aims to change that.

Personalized remote training

Thanks to funding from the Gossweiler Foundation, 53 people with HSP will be able to take part in the project. Each participant receives a home trainer (such as an exercise bike) tailored to their preferences and abilities. Participants report via an app (at least twice a week) on how they feel and how their training is going.

They receive remote supervision from specialized therapists at Radboudumc. The training focuses on improving fitness, balance, and mobility, with the goal of maintaining independence and quality of life.

Science and people-centered

The study begins in September 2025 and runs until the end of 2028. During this period, not only the trainings are conducted, but also assessments to measure effects on daily functioning and well-being. Results will be shared with patient organizations, in international scientific journals, and at conferences.

Benefits for everyone

What makes RE‑TRAIN‑HSP unique is that after completion, the entire training program will be publicly available. That means people with HSP across Europe and beyond can benefit. Knowledge sharing will be facilitated via the European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases.

Making fitness training accessible

Thanks to additional support from Life4HSP of €55.124,- all participants will have access to a suitable home trainer and remote supervision by a physiotherapist and junior researcher. This removes a key barrier: being able to train from home, safely and effectively.

You will soon receive information on how to participate, what guidance is provided, and how the training works.

Would you like to contribute to projects like these? Find out here what you can do so that together we can enable more vital research.