Mirror Illusion Training and Cross-education

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Cross-education describes the transfer of motor performance to the opposite limb following unilateral training and is primarily explained by adaptations within the brain. The mirror training hypothesis suggests that illusionary mirror visual feedback may augment the cross-education of strength to the untrained, contralateral limb. The purpose of this project is to examine how the use of illusionary mirror visual feedback shapes the neuromuscular adaptations that occur for both limbs during unilateral (single-limb) strength training. Our hypothesis is that mirror training will augment the level of cross-education for the untrained arm.

Detailed Description
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Recent empirical evidence shows a heightened level of strength transfer with the use of illusionary mirror visual feedback, but this was shown for the small muscles of the wrist during isokinetic training. It is unknown if larger, multi-joint muscles respond favorably to mirror training in practical settings. A randomized controlled study design will allocate approximately 20 participants into two groups. One group will perform unilateral strength training with illusionary mirror visual feedback (Mirror) and the other will perform the same unilateral strength training but without a mirror (No-Mirror). The intervention will involve four weeks of unilateral strength training performed twice weekly at high intensities (>80%1RM).

Official Title
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Mirror Illusion Training to Improve Contralateral Arm Strength

Conditions
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Exercise Therapy, Weight Lifting

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Unilateral resistance training
* Other: Illusionary mirror visual feedback


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: right-hand dominance no previous strength training of upper body last 3 months no injuries or recent surgeries of the upper limbs willingness to adhere to the strength training requirements of the study Exclusion Criteria: current use of hormone replacement therapy pregnancy/breastfeeding

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomized, two arm parallel experimental and control groups
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Resistance training control group<br>The resistance training control group will perform unilateral resistance training on their dominant arm. The training will be performed twice per week for four weeks totaling eight training sessions. | Other: Unilateral resistance training<br>* Unilateral resistance training of the elbow flexors<br>|
| Experimental: Resistance training with mirror illusion group<br>The resistance training with mirror illusion group will perform unilateral resistance training on their dominant arm. During training, they will view a mirror illusion of their exercising arm over their opposite, non-exercising arm. The training will be performed twice per week for four weeks totaling eight training sessions. | Other: Unilateral resistance training<br>* Unilateral resistance training of the elbow flexors<br>Other: Illusionary mirror visual feedback<br>* Modified Ramachandran's mirror box<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in dynamic muscle strength for the trained and untrained arm | Dynamic 1-repetition maximum (lbs) | Baseline (week 0) post-training (week 5) | 
| Change in isometric muscle strength for the trained and untrained arm | Isometric maximal voluntary contraction | Baseline (week 0) post-training (week 5) | 
| Change in lean mass for the trained and untrained arm | DEXA (g) | Baseline (week 0), mid-training (week 2), post-training (week 5) | 
| Change in muscle thickness for the trained and untrained arm | Ultrasound muscle thickness (cm) | Baseline (week 0), mid-training (week 2), post-training (week 5) | 
| Change in muscle activation for the trained and untrained arm | Electromyographic amplitude (volts) | Baseline (week 0) post-training (week 5) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Strength training, Mirror visual feedback