Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Prevent Exercise Resistance

Colorado State University (CSU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Fat Metabolism

Treatments: Other: neuromuscular electrical stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07161648

5208 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study will find out if 100 minutes of electrical stimulation of muscle prevents the unfavorable consequence of insufficient exercise.

Full description

Exercise resistance is characterized by the absence of exercise induced improvements in fat metabolism following a meal, and results from prolonged sedentary behavior between successive workouts (i.e. 2+ sedentary days between exercise bouts). The suggested energy expenditure threshold for avoiding exercise resistance is the equivalent of walking ~8,500 steps/day. However, population data indicate that the typical adult in the US only walks 5,000 steps/day (i.e. 3,500 steps below the threshold). Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) evokes skeletal muscle contractions and increases energy expenditure. The hypothesis to be explored in this current proposal is: NMES will prevent exercise resistance. The plan is to induce exercise resistance via short-term abstention from activity other than exercise, and then on a separate occasion, use NMES to prevent exercise resistance (i.e. the short-term abstention from exercise will be "replaced" with NMES).

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Regularly active (more than 30 minutes of exercise per day, 3 days per week, over the previous 12 months)
• Ability to complete at least one hour of treadmill exercise (i.e. jogging/running),
• Willing to abstain from caffeine and alcohol for 24-hours prior to three different study visits
• Competency in English

Exclusion criteria

• Current or previous injuries that may hinder a participant's ability to exercise on a treadmill
• A history of cardiopulmonary disorder that may be contra-indicative to treadmill exercise
• Current use of cardio-pulmonary medication to treat a cardio-pulmonary condition
• Currently breastfeeding
• Pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 3 patient groups

Establishing the normal benefit of exercise

No Intervention group

Description:

Study participants will complete treadmill exercise. During the same day, they will walk a minimum of 8,500 steps. The next day, fat oxidation will be measured after eating a high-fat meal.

Demonstrating exercise resistance

No Intervention group

Description:

Study participants will complete treadmill exercise. They will walk no more than 5,000 steps on the same day. The next day, fat oxidation will be measured after eating a high-fat meal.

Trying to prevent exercise resistance

Experimental group

Description:

Study participants will complete treadmill exercise. They will walk no more than 5,000 steps on the same day. They will receive 100 minutes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The next day, fat oxidation will be measured after eating a high-fat meal.

Treatment:

Other: neuromuscular electrical stimulation