Strength Training Augmenting Rehabilitation

Texas Christian University20 enrolled

Overview

This project aims to determine whether a novel strength training rehabilitation protocol can diminish the negative consequences of limb immobilization and expedite the restoration of muscle function during retraining in healthy individuals.

The present study will examine the time course of muscle strength and size adaptations in two groups of volunteers during immobilization and retraining. Both groups will undergo temporary muscle disuse by wearing a shoulder sling and swathe on their non-dominant arm for \~≥10 hours/day for four weeks. One group (immobilization + unilateral training) will perform progressive unilateral strength training of the free limb throughout the immobilization period. The other group (immobilization control) will not undergo any training during the immobilization period. Following immobilization, both groups will undergo four weeks of bilateral strength training to retrain the immobilized arm.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Muscle Disuse Atrophy

Interventions

Orthopedic immobilizationPROCEDURE

Orthopedic immobilization will be performed with a sling and swathe.

Unilateral resistance trainingOTHER

Unilateral resistance training will be performed by the dominant arm of the immobilization + unilateral resistance training group during Phase 1.

Bilateral resistance trainingOTHER

Bilateral resistance training will be performed by both arms in both groups during Phase 2.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * a body mass index between 18 - 35 kg/m2 * 18-35 years of age * right-hand dominant * willingness to comply with the immobilization requirements * willingness to refrain from strength training outside of the study * willingness to comply with the strength training procedures of the study Exclusion Criteria: * a personal or family history of blood clots * a personal or family history of thyroid disorders * previous orthopedic surgeries to the upper limbs and/or joint pain of the upper limbs in the last 6 months * neuromuscular or metabolic disorders * osteoarthritis * use of hormone replacement therapy (ie., testosterone, estrogen, and/or growth hormone pharmaceuticals) * pregnancy and/or nursing

Locations (2)

TCU Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory

Fort Worth, Texas, United States

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

TCU RIC

Fort Worth, Texas, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in isometric muscle strength

MVC (Newton)

Time frame: Changes from baseline at 5 and 10 weeks

Changes in dynamic muscle strength

1RM (lbs)

Time frame: Changes from baseline at 5 and 10 weeks

Changes in muscle size

Ultrasound muscle thickness of biceps brachii and triceps brachii

Time frame: Changes from baseline at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 weeks

Changes in lean mass

DEXA

Time frame: Changes from baseline at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 weeks

Changes in EMG amplitude

Surface EMG

Time frame: Changes from baseline at 5 and 10 weeks

Changes in action potential amplitude

Surface EMG Decomposition

Time frame: Changes from baseline at 5 and 10 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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