NCT05072652

Short Term Immobilization of the Lower Limb

Short-term Immobilization and Rehabilitation of the Lower Limb: Changes in Strength, Size, and Neuromuscular Function

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Central Florida · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of one week of knee-joint immobilization on muscle size, strength, neuromuscular function, and brain function. In addition, the effects of two different interventions (i.e., neuromuscular electrical stimulation and action observation/mental imagery) throughout immobilization will be determined. Following the immobilization period, participants that have lost strength will be rehabilitated with twice weekly resistance training sessions, and sex-based differences in rehabilitation timelines will be examined.

Detailed description

This study will utilize a repeated measures design in healthy adults aged 18-40 years. After a thorough familiarization visit, muscular size, strength, neuromuscular responses, and corticospinal excitability/inhibition will be measured before (PRE) and after (POST) one week of unilateral knee joint immobilization of the left leg. Four groups will be examined: 1) immobilization only, 2) immobilization + daily neuromuscular electrical stimulation, 3) immobilization + daily action observation/mental imagery training, 4) a control group. Throughout the immobilization period, participants will be in a leg brace locked at 90 degrees knee flexion. They will perform daily range of motion exercises and wear a compression sock at all times to mitigate the risk of blood clots. Following completion of the immobilization period, participants that have lost strength will complete a supervised rehabilitation program of twice weekly lower body resistance training sessions until they have returned to baseline levels of strength. Group assignment will be randomized and blocked on sex to ensure an equal number of participants within each group consisting of a relatively equal number of males and females.

Conditions

• Weakness, Muscle
• Muscle Weakness
• Muscle Loss
• Muscle Atrophy
• Injury, Knee

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation	Participants in this group will perform twice daily neuromuscular electrical stimulation training sessions of the quadriceps muscles (specifically, the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris) or the immobilized left leg.
OTHER	Action Observation + Mental Imagery	Participants in this group will perform daily action observation + mental imagery training via video and audio recordings.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-10-11
• Primary completion: 2022-06-01
• Completion: 2022-07-01
• First posted: 2021-10-11
• Last updated: 2022-08-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States