Brain Stimulation During Arm Immobilisation

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscle Loss
• Interventions: Other: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

• Registration Number: NCT04130581
• Lead Sponsor: Lancaster University

Brief Summary

The research project explores how non-invasive brain stimulation can be used to detect and ameliorate loss of muscle strength after inactivity. At present, there is a limited understanding of how to maintain muscle strength during inactivity. Increasing evidence indicates that reduction in muscle strength following immobilisation is associated with reduced cortical motor output. Therefore, the aim of the study is to test if brain stimulation, can maintain cortical motor output and ameliorate the loss of muscle strength following immobilisation.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-05-14
• Study First Submitted: 2019-10-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-10-16
• Study First Posted: 2019-10-17
• Primary Completion: 2020-01-31
• Study Completion: 2020-01-31
• Status Verified: 2020-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-02-18
• Last Update Posted: 2020-02-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• Male
• right-handed
• aged 18-30
• healthy BMI

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Exclusion Criteria

• no primary muscle disorders
• no open wounds or skin conditions to arms and hands
• no neurological disorders or history of
• no history of fainting/convulsions
• no metal implanted into head/eye/neck
• non-smoker
• no arm, hand, fingers, shoulder injuries

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sham	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)	Six 30-pulse trains of 20 Hz repetitive sham Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation above, but not in contact with, the head, separated by 60 seconds, repeated at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-immobilisation.
TMS	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)	Six 30-pulse trains of 20 Hz repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to left primary motor cortex hand area, separated by 60 seconds, repeated at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-immobilisation.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs) across time points	0, 24, 48, and 72 hours	MEPs are elicited via TMS to primary motor cortex and index the excitability of the motor pathway. They are recorded non-invasively from muscles using surface electrodes. At each time point of the study (0, 24, 48, 72 hours) record MEPs will be recorded pre and post-intervention from the hand muscles of the dominant (immobilised) arm, and non-dominant (non-immobilised arm), to evaluate changes in excitability. Specifically, the peak-to-peak value of the MEPs from the hand will be measured, which reflects the amplitude of the MEP response. The latency of the MEP to index neural conduction speed will also be measured.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in grip strength across time points	0, and 72 hours.	Grip strength of the dominant and non-dominant hands will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer at 0 and 72 hrs post-immobilisation. This will measure the strength of the hand muscles.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Lancaster University; 🇬🇧 Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom