Age-independent Decline in Manual Dexterity of Middle-aged and Older Adults

Not Applicable

Withdrawn

• Conditions: Aging

• Registration Number: NCT03803566
• Lead Sponsor: University of Colorado, Boulder

Brief Summary

The objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate the mediating influence of force control on the pegboard times of adults (50-89 years) who are stratified into groups of faster and slower pegboard times. The hypothesis is that practice of either a pegboard test or a force-control task will reduce pegboard times, but the decrease will be greater and less similar after the two practice interventions for the slower group of participants. The outcomes are expected to demonstrate that force control is a modifiable mediator of pegboard times for this cohort, but the effect will be stronger for the group with faster pegboard times.

Detailed Description

The study will involve a randomized, cross-over design with a one-week washout between arms. The two arms (3 weeks each) will comprise practice of the grooved pegboard test and practice of steady contractions while lifting and lowering light loads with a hand muscle. Randomization into practice order will be accomplished with a block approach (block size = 4) for each of the two groups. The outcome assessors will be blinded to practice order. The outcomes will comprise three tests of manual dexterity and the measurement of force control during submaximal contractions. The outcomes will be obtained before and after the six sessions in each practice arm.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-01-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-01-10
• Study First Posted: 2019-01-14
• Status Verified: 2021-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-11-12
• Last Update Posted: 2021-11-16
• Study Start: 2025-08
• Primary Completion: 2025-11
• Study Completion: 2026-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: WITHDRAWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: Not specified

Inclusion Criteria

• Able to read, write, and speak English
• Able to arrange transportation to the Boulder campus

Exclusion Criteria

• Cognitive impairment
• Major psychiatric condition
• Unstable depressive disorder
• Progressive neurological, muscular, cardiovascular, or skeletal disorder
• Chronic pain condition
• Currently taking medication known to influence neuromuscular function
• Recent hospitalization
• Unable to attend 12 practice sessions in 6 weeks

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Grooved pegboard test	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	Time to complete the test as quickly as possible
Jebsen Hand Function test	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	Time to complete the test as quickly as possible
9-hole pegboard test	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	Time to complete the test as quickly as possible
Force control	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	The coefficient of variation for force when subjects exert a constant submaximal force

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
MVC force	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	The peak force exerted during a maximal isometric contractions
Index finger acceleration	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	The average standard deviation of index finger acceleration in the abduction-adduction plane when a light load is being lifted and lowered during the practice intervention
Motor unit discharge rates	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	The discharge times of action potentials by motor units during the steady submaximal contractions
EMG amplitude	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	Absolute amplitude of the electromyographic (EMG) signal for the involved muscles during the steady contractions
1-RM load	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7	The maximal weight that can be lifted once

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Colorado Boulder; 🇺🇸 Boulder, Colorado, United States