Effects of tDCS on High Level and Recreational Athletes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Healthy recreational and high level athletes will undergo 2 randomized, cross-over counterbalanced sessions of anodal tDCS or sham tDCS. The primary outcome is an isokinetic evaluation of their hamstrings' and quadriceps' endurance after each session

Detailed Description
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Recruitment : Healthy recreational and high level athletes will be recruited through social media and advertisements. Each subject came twice to the Liege University Hospitals' isokinetic lab. Each session began with strapping the subjet into the isokinetic machine, making sure that all the settings were adapted to the subject. Then, each subject received either anodal tDCS, of sham tDCS. Neither the evaluator or the subject knew which they were receiving. Immediately following tDCS, there was a warmup consisting of stationary bike, and an isokinetic warmup. Then, subjects' endurance was using a maximal isokinetic tests, at 30 maximal concentric and eccentric contractions at a speed of 180°/s.

Official Title
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Comparing the Effects of tDCS on Endurance Parameters Between High Level and Recreational Athletes

Conditions
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Healthy, Athlete

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: tDCS


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: For the recreational group at most 3 hours of sport a week For the athletic group, at least 10 hours of sport a week Right handed and footed Exclusion Criteria: One on the TSST (in high and relatively high risk sections) Previous neurological or orthopedic pathologies affecting limbs

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomized, triple-blind, sham-controlled, crossover
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Anodal tDCS<br>Subjects will receive 20min anodal tDCS | Device: tDCS<br>* 20 minutes of anodal tDCS (C3/FP2) 2mA or sham<br>* Other names: Non invasive brain stimulation;|
| Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS<br>Subjects will receive 20 minutes of Sham anodal tDCS | Device: tDCS<br>* 20 minutes of anodal tDCS (C3/FP2) 2mA or sham<br>* Other names: Non invasive brain stimulation;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Peak Strength | Peak strength (measured by the isokinetic machine) is measured after each of the 30 repetitions. Peak strength of the 30 repetitions will be measured, and how strength decreases throughout the test will be analysed | Immediately after tDCS and sham | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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tDCS, Athlete, Isokinetic, Endurance, Fatigue