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

Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Isochronus Paced; Other: Self Paced; Other: Fractal Paced

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06539650

AcuteMETROTRAIN - 1404

Details and patient eligibility

About

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

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

30 participants in 3 patient groups

Fractal Paced

Experimental group

Description:

Strength training in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with a fractal-like visual metronome, i.e., a metronome presenting visual external cues with variability within its temporal structure.

Treatment:

Other: Fractal Paced

Isochronous Paced

Experimental group

Description:

Strength training in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with a isochronus visual metronome, i.e., a metronome presenting visual external cues withthe same pace in each repetition (without variability)

Treatment:

Other: Isochronus Paced

Self Paced

Experimental group

Description:

Strength training in single leg extension machine at participants self pace.

Treatment:

Other: Self Paced