Impact of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Capacity to Perform Burpees

Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Primary Motor Cortex; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

Treatments: Device: tDCS targeting DLPFC; Device: SHAM tDCS; Device: tDCS targeting M1

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06472882

PID2021-128204OA-I00-AEI/FEDER (Other Grant/Funding Number)

CE-031908-A

ED431B 2021/28 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Introduction and Background:

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential intervention to improve physical performance. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on performance in a maximal effort task, specifically the No Jump Burpee exercise.

Study Design:

This study will utilize a double-blind crossover design, where each subject will complete three experimental conditions: a-DLPFC, a-M1, and SHAM.

Participants:

Twenty healthy male subjects will be recruited for the study.

Intervention:

Each participant will undergo three conditions in a randomized order:

a-DLPFC: tDCS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

a-M1: tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex. SHAM: Placebo stimulation.

Procedure:

Prior to performing the No Jump Burpee exercise to exhaustion, tDCS will be administered at a current of 2 milliampere (mA) for 20 minutes.

Measurements:

The following variables will be measured during the exercise:

Total number of repetitions of the No Jump Burpee exercise. Vastus lateralis muscle oxygen saturation. Heart rate. Subjective perception of exertion (RPE).

Data Analysis:

Repeated measures ANOVAs will be used to analyze the effects of the different tDCS conditions on the performance outcomes.

Ethical Considerations:

The study protocol will be reviewed and approved by an appropriate ethics committee. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before participation in the study.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of tDCS on physical performance, specifically measuring the total number of repetitions of the No Jump Burpee exercise. Secondary objectives include assessing the changes in muscle oxygen saturation, heart rate, and subjective perception of exertion.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy subject.
• No use of any ergogenic substance.
• Participants must be recreationally active, defined as engaging in moderate physical activity at least 3 times per week for the past 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• Any contraindications to transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, such as metallic implants in the head, active implanted medical devices (e.g., pacemakers), or skin conditions affecting the scalp.
• Current or recent (within the past 6 months) substance abuse, including alcohol or recreational drugs.
• Musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 weeks.
• Lower extremity pain above 3 or more according to numeric pain scale.
• History of epilepsy or convulsive crisis.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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20 participants in 3 patient groups

tDCS Targeting the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) targeting the DLPFC. The tDCS will be administered at an intensity of 2 mA for 20 minutes. This arm aims to evaluate the effects of DLPFC stimulation on performance during a maximal effort "No Jump Burpee" exercise.

Treatment:

Device: tDCS targeting DLPFC

tDCS Targeting the Primary Motor Cortex (M1)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) targeting the primary motor cortex (M1). The tDCS will be administered at an intensity of 2 mA for 20 minutes. This arm aims to evaluate the effects of M1 stimulation on performance during a maximal effort "No Jump Burpee" exercise.

Treatment:

Device: tDCS targeting M1

SHAM tDCS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive a sham tDCS session, which simulates the experience of tDCS without actual stimulation. This arm serves as a control to ensure the blinding of participants and evaluators.

Treatment:

Device: SHAM tDCS