Clinical trial NCT05115643: Brain and Muscle Plasticity During Immobilization
Official title: Examining Changes in Muscle Size and Strength, Neuromuscular Function, and Brain Plasticity During Limb Immobilization in Women
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Muscle Atrophy
Lead sponsor: McGill University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-11-10
Enrollment: 12
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Patients in rehabilitation may undergo periods of prolonged limb immobilization in response to injury, surgery, or illness. Due to disuse, the size and strength of muscles controlling the affected limb can decrease significantly, possibly resulting in physical impairment or lower quality of life during the recovery phase. Prior immobilization studies have shown that the rate and degree of decline in muscle strength exceeds that of muscle size, indicating that determinants of muscle strength unrelated to muscle size may further contribute to functional changes during immobilization.

The purpose of this study is to describe the changes in muscle strength, muscle size, corticospinal excitability, voluntary activation, M1 cortical thickness, and resting state functional connectivity following a 2-week limb immobilization period in young women.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Biologically female
* Right-hand dominant
* Body mass index between 18.5-30 kg/m\^2 (inclusive)
* Regular menstrual cycle
* Be able to maintain a habitual diet throughout the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Use of tobacco
* Pregnancy
* A history of brain trauma
* Suffers from a neurological disease or movement disorder
* Peripheral nerve damage
* Use of medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e., corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or prescription strength acne medications)
* Diagnosed with or suspects having a psychiatric illness
* Use of dietary supplements known to affect muscle size (i.e., creatine, fish oil)
* Past or present diagnosis of an eating disorder by a physician or registered dietician
* Possesses any metal implants (e.g. artificial joints, pacemakers, stents) or non-removeable medical devices that are contraindicative for magnetic resonance imaging (e.g. insulin pumps)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in isometric elbow flexion and extension peak torque, both arms
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
measure: Change in isokinetic elbow flexion and extension peak torque, both arms
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
measure: Change in cross-sectional area of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles, both arms
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
measure: Change in volume of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles, both arms
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
measure: Voluntary activation of biceps brachii, both arms
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
measure: Change in corticospinal excitability of biceps brachii, both arms
timeFrame: Comparison between before immobilization and 24 hours of left arm immobilization, and before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in right and left primary motor cortex thickness
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
measure: Change in whole brain resting state functional connectivity
timeFrame: Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Other outcomes:
measure: 2-day caloric and macronutrient intake, before immobilization
timeFrame: Measured during the 2-day period right before left arm immobilization
measure: 2-day caloric and macronutrient intake, during immobilization
timeFrame: Measured during the last 2 days of left arm immobilization
measure: Ovarian hormone concentrations (estradiol, progesterone)
timeFrame: Measured on day of left arm immobilization, before putting on the arm brace
measure: Ovarian hormone concentrations (estradiol, progesterone)
timeFrame: Measured after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Locations:
city: Montreal
country: Canada
facility: Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition Research Laboratory
state: Quebec
Study officials:
References: