NCT06689618

Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Spinal Motoneuronal Activation in Older Adults

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

During this pilot study, the investigators will examine the effects of whole-body electrical muscle stimulation exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) on motoneuronal activation in healthy adults, which typically decreases with age. The investigators will also test whether WB-EMS Exercise will improve measures of physical function. Participants will undergo clinical and electrophysiologic testing before and after the WB-EMS Exercise intervention. The WB-EMS Exercise intervention will be delivered two times per week for four weeks. The hypothesis is that whole-body electrical muscle stimulation combined with physical exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) could bypass the problem of insufficient motoneuronal activation to improve exercise effect in older adults.

Detailed description

During this pilot study, the investigators will examine the effects of whole-body electrical muscle stimulation exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) on motoneuronal activation in healthy adults, which typically decreases with age. The investigators will also test whether WB-EMS Exercise will improve measures of physical function. The intervention consists of WB-EMS Exercise twice a week for four weeks. The investigators will use decomposition electromyography, interpolated twitch technique, and clinical measures to assess pre- and post-treatment motoneuronal activation and physical functioning. Correlation matrices will be performed associating the measures of motoneuronal activation to the measures of physical function (pre-intervention values, post-intervention values, and change values). At the conclusion of the study, expected outcomes include that whole-body electrical muscle stimulation combined with physical exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) could bypass the problem of insufficient motoneuronal activation to improve exercise effect in older adults. This project represents early work to uncover motoneuronal mechanisms of WB-EMS Exercise in older adults. An intervention that combines voluntary and involuntary activation of motoneurons to enhance the effectiveness of exercise could have significant impact in maximizing the functional independence of an aging population.

Conditions

• Aging
• Sarcopenia
• Sarcopenia in Elderly

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Exercise	The WB-EMS Device is a fitness device that delivers whole-body electrical muscle stimulation in conjunction with exercise programs. After donning a base layer consisting of fitted shorts and shirt, a vest, shorts, and arm straps with integrated electrodes mapped to major muscle groups (biceps, triceps, pectorals, abdominals, periscapular musculature, paraspinal musculature, gluteus musculature, quadriceps, and hamstrings) are donned. The suit connects to an impulse pack that communicates with the Katalyst iPad App to deliver the programmed stimulation to the participant. Within the Katalyst App, there are leveled exercise programs where low levels (i.e. Level 1 and 2) are simple movements and higher levels (i.e. Levels 3, 4, and 5) have more complex and dynamic movements. There is complete user control of the stimulation level of each individual muscle group to tailor to participant responses and tolerance.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-18
• Primary completion: 2026-05-01
• Completion: 2026-06-01
• First posted: 2024-11-14
• Last updated: 2026-02-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study