Clinical trial NCT06689618: Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Spinal Motoneuronal Activation in Older Adults
Official title: Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Spinal Motoneuronal Activation in Older Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Aging
Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia in Elderly
Keywords: Aging
Motoneuronal Activation
Electrical Stimulation
Whole-Body Stimulation
Sarcopenia
Exercise Intervention
Exercise
Lead sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-11-14
Enrollment: 12
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Enrolled participants will undergo pre-test assessments within 2-4 days before and after the intervention period. The pre-test assessment visit will be scheduled for 3.5 hours, and the post-test assessment visit for 2.5 hours, reflecting that the pre-test visit will incorporate consenting and screening procedures. The intervention will consist of 2 visits per week for 4 weeks; each intervention visit will be scheduled for 1.5 hours.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: During this pilot study, the investigators will examine the effects of whole-body electrical muscle stimulation exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) on motoneuronal activation in healthy adults, which typically decreases with age. The investigators will also test whether WB-EMS Exercise will improve measures of physical function. Participants will undergo clinical and electrophysiologic testing before and after the WB-EMS Exercise intervention. The WB-EMS Exercise intervention will be delivered two times per week for four weeks. The hypothesis is that whole-body electrical muscle stimulation combined with physical exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) could bypass the problem of insufficient motoneuronal activation to improve exercise effect in older adults.

Detailed description: During this pilot study, the investigators will examine the effects of whole-body electrical muscle stimulation exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) on motoneuronal activation in healthy adults, which typically decreases with age. The investigators will also test whether WB-EMS Exercise will improve measures of physical function. The intervention consists of WB-EMS Exercise twice a week for four weeks. The investigators will use decomposition electromyography, interpolated twitch technique, and clinical measures to assess pre- and post-treatment motoneuronal activation and physical functioning. Correlation matrices will be performed associating the measures of motoneuronal activation to the measures of physical function (pre-intervention values, post-intervention values, and change values). At the conclusion of the study, expected outcomes include that whole-body electrical muscle stimulation combined with physical exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) could bypass the problem of insufficient motoneuronal activation to improve exercise effect in older adults. This project represents early work to uncover motoneuronal mechanisms of WB-EMS Exercise in older adults. An intervention that combines voluntary and involuntary activation of motoneurons to enhance the effectiveness of exercise could have significant impact in maximizing the functional independence of an aging population.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age (65 years or older) for healthy older adults and between 18-39 for healthy younger adults
* Ambulatory without an assistive device
* More than anti-gravity strength in major muscle groups as assessed by manual muscle testing
* Medical clearance to participate in an exercise program
* Ability to conform to the requirements of the study (i.e. attendance at assessment and intervention visits, maintain current level of non-study physical activity for the duration of the study, no intention to relocate mid-study)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Regular use of an assistive device for mobility (i.e. cane, walker, wheelchair)
* Presence of a pacemaker, metal implants, or other implanted medical devices that could impact participant safety during WB-EMS intervention
* Known pregnancy at the time of screening
* Presence of unstable acute or chronic disease (i.e. renal failure, rheumatologic disease cardia arrhythmia, neoplasm, uncontrolled hypertension)
* Presence of terminal disease (i.e. receiving hospice services)
* Current of previous use of any drugs known to influence muscle mass or performance within 6 months; these may include but are not limited to anabolic steroids, IGF01, growth hormone, replacement and androgen therapy, anti-androgen therapy.
* Known neuromuscular or neurologic condition affecting somatosensory or motor function/control (i.e. motor neuron disease, muscle disease, severe peripheral neuropathy, NMJ disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, h/o stroke, TBI, SCI, ataxia, apraxia, hemiplegia, etc.)
* Musculoskeletal condition or surgery in the past year that would confound results of exercise interventions (i.e. TKA, THA, RTC repair, spinal fusion)
* Other medical conditions, signs, or symptoms that would interfere with study conduct or interpretation of results as determined by a PI

Primary outcomes:
measure: Mean change from baseline in motor unit firing rates of the vastus lateralis using decomposition electromyography (dEMG)
timeFrame: Measured within 3 days of starting the intervention and within 3 days of completing the intervention
measure: Mean change from baseline in central activation ratio of the vastus lateralis using interpolated twitch technique (ITT)
timeFrame: Measured within 3 days of starting the intervention and within 3 days of completing the intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Mean change from baseline in mobility testing
timeFrame: Measured within 3 days of starting the intervention and within 3 days of completing the intervention
measure: Mean change from baseline in balance testing
timeFrame: Measured within 3 days of starting the intervention and within 3 days of completing the intervention
measure: Treatment Feedback Questionnaire
timeFrame: Measured within 3 days of completing the intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Columbia
country: United States
facility: NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science Unit
state: Missouri
Study officials:
References: