The primary objective of this study is to establish the relationships between structural and neural adaptation of human skeletal muscle when muscles are exposed to overstretch and overload through exercise.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Muscle disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The primary outcome of this study will be to relate muscle volume, fascicle
length, and pennation angle to motor unit discharge rate, inter-spike interval,
and recruitment threshold.
Secondary outcome
The secondary outcome of this study will be to compare muscle fascicle length
changes and shortening velocity, and motor neuron discharge rate, inter-spike
interval, and recruitment threshold before and after the training intervention.
Background summary
Understanding human-machine motor interaction requires accounting for the
variable nature of the human body. By a simplified example, the same neural
command to a muscle would yield different force profiles (i.e. function)
depending on the muscle form, e.g. changes in muscle cross-sectional area
post-impairment. How changing form alters function is central for understanding
motor function, dysfunction and recovery. Structural changes in the central
nervous system (i.e. following a brain lesion) are shown to induce structural
changes in muscles, ligaments, tendon properties. In stroke survivors this
leads to abnormal neuro-musculoskeletal function underlying paresis, muscle
spastic tone, abnormal joint couplings. Although treatment programs can improve
paretic muscle control and global motor capacity the neuro-muscular structural
changes that drive recovery are not fully understood, thus limiting treatment
effectiveness. How the change in muscle structure is associated with neural
alterations is currently unknown. Once these relationships are established, and
once it is known how structural and neural adaptations affect muscle force
generation and function, individualised and more optimal rehabilitation
strategies can be developed.
Study objective
The primary objective of this study is to establish the relationships between
structural and neural adaptation of human skeletal muscle when muscles are
exposed to overstretch and overload through exercise.
Study design
The experiment is of a longitudinal design including a exercise intervention
with a total of 34 sessions spanned across 16 weeks.
Intervention
For the experiment, the exercise intervention will consist of maximal voluntary
ankle eccentric plantarflexion contractions. Two training session will be
performed per week for a training period of 8 weeks. Per session, 5 bouts of 10
repetitions will be performed.
Study burden and risks
This study does not create a direct benefit for the participants. There is a
considerate time commitment for participating in this study. However,
participants will be fairly compensated financially and in form of a smartwatch
for participating in this study. The risks associated with participating in
this study are negligible. The prospect of developing individualised and more
optimal rehabilitation strategies based on the structural and neural
relationships established in this study will hopefully lead to improved quality
of life for stroke and spinal cord injury patients, in the future.
Drienerlolaan 5
Enschede 7522 NB
NL
Drienerlolaan 5
Enschede 7522 NB
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- Age between 18 and 55,
- legal capacity to give their consent at their own will
Exclusion criteria
- neuromuscular disease,
- carrier of infectious diseases (COVID19),
- degenerative mental impairment, e.g. dementia,
- inability to cooperate, e.g. due to cognitive deficits (in understanding
instructions) or a level of motor impairment that does not permit execution of
the intended tasks,
- subjects suffering from known cardiac conditions (e.g., pacemakers,
arrhythmias, and cardiac conduction disturbances) or peripheral neuropathy.
- skin sensitivity or allergies as these are typical contraindications for the
application of surface EMG electrodes via adhesive elements and conductive gels.
- If participants have one of the following objects in their bodies: metal
(splinters) (e.g., by working in the metal industry); pacemaker, pacemaker
leads or an implanted defibrillator; an artificial heart valve/aorta valve or a
stent; clips on blood vessels; implanted magnets in the jaw; fixed hearing aid,
bladder stimulator, insulin pump, neurostimulator, baclofen pump, tissue
expander; eye or ear implants; foreign materials implanted in the body; braces
or metallic wire fixed behind teeth; piercings. Participants with these objects
in/on their bodies have to be excluded as they must not be inside of a magnetic
resonance imaging device
- Dependency on one or more researchers of this project
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL77393.091.21 |