Neural Adaptations to a Single Session of Metronome-Paced Strength Training

Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL30 enrolled

Overview

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of incorporating variability within a single session of Resistance Training (RT) methods on the neural adaptations along the corticospinal tract and on neuromuscular function. The literature suggests that RTis one of the most common modalities to enhance and restore muscle function and its practice results in adaptation in neural and morphological adaptations. Moreover, it is also known that muscle contraction relies on the coordination and regulation of the descending neural drive from the motor cortex to the motoneurons and from the motoneurons to the muscles. However, traditional RT programs tend not to address this motor control dimension. Recent approaches such as metronome paced strength training have been used to cover this motor control dimension through a greater control and consciousness of movement. However, this methodology tends not to incorporate the inherent variability and complex, fractal-like fluctuations that characterize human movement. The investigators propose that incorporating variability through a fractal-like metronome approach will speed up the neural adaptations which will be useful in injury rehab

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy

Interventions

Fractal PacedOTHER

The intervention consists in a single session of metronome paced strength training composed by 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with fractal external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Isochronus PacedOTHER

The intervention consists in a single session of metronome paced strength training composed by 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with isochronus external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 40 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * healthy males * aged between 18 and 40 years Exclusion Criteria: * Neurologic conditions; * Lower limb disabilities or disease; * Not able to provide informed consent; * Have an implanted device (e.g. pacemakers) or any metal in the body; * Medication advised against the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; * History/family history of seizures, brain lesions or head trauma, neurological or psychiatric diseases, epilepsy, migraine

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Corticospinal Excitability (CSE) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

CSE is a parameter extracted through the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This parameter provides information regarding the level of excitability of the corticospinal tract.