Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Parameters on Torque, Fatigue, and Oxygen Extraction

NCT ID: NCT05061056

Last Updated: 2023-05-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 44 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-11-02
• Study Completion Date: 2022-05-22

Brief Summary

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) can minimize muscle atrophy, complications related to muscle disuse and improved neuromuscular performance. However, it is still unclear the influence of specific physical parameters, including carrier frequency, burst duration, and duty cycle regarding the greater generation of evoked torque, sensory discomfort, muscle fatigue, and peripheral oxygen extraction. Thus, the aim of this study is to compare the effects of different NMES protocols applied to the triceps surae muscle for evoked torque, muscle fatigue, sensory discomfort, and peripheral oxygen extraction in healthy individuals. This is a crossover, experimental, randomized, double-blind trial composed of apparently healthy participants. All NMES protocols will be tested on the same individual with randomization of the sequence of intervention protocols. There will be a total of 6 encounters with seven days between them. Session 1 will evaluate the anthropometric measures, the maximum intensity for each intervention protocol, and the sequence of intervention protocols for each individual will be randomized. Sessions 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be composed equally with the assessment of the maximum voluntary and evoked joint torque of the triceps surae muscle through the isokinetic dynamometer, evaluation of muscle fatigue through the H-reflex, M-wave, fatigue index, time-torque-integral, and recruitment curve, evaluation of peripheral oxygen extraction through NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy), electromyographic signals to assessed the RMS (root mean square) and the median frequency, evaluation of the level of sensory discomfort through the Visual Analog Pain Scale and finally by the NMES protocol. The 6th session will be the replication of the 2nd session of each individual. The EENM protocols will be as follows: CR10% (Russian Current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts), CR20% (Russian Current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 20% of duty cycle - 4 ms bursts and 16 ms interbusrts), CA10% (Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms of bursts and 18 ms interbusrts), CA20% (Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 20% of duty cycle - 4 ms of bursts and 16 ms interbusrts) all protocols will be performed on the triceps surae muscle.

Detailed Description

This is a crossover, experimental, randomized, double-blind trial composed of apparently healthy participants. The objective is to compare the effects of different NMES protocols applied to the triceps surae muscle for evoked torque, muscle fatigue, sensory discomfort, and peripheral oxygen extraction. The effects of the types of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) protocols on the aforementioned outcomes will be evaluated in the same participant by randomizing the sequences of interventions for each visit in the laboratory. The study is considered double-blind, as individuals will not know the sequence of the protocols applied. The evaluator will also not know which protocol will be used at the time of the intervention. It will consist of a total of 6 sessions with seven days between them. In the first session, anthropometry, the maximum intensity level for each electrical stimulation protocol as well as the protocol sequence for each individual will be evaluated. From the second to the fifth session, the following will be considered: voluntary and evoked maximum joint torque of the triceps surae muscle, muscle fatigue through the evaluation of the H-reflex, M-wave, fatigue index, torque-time-integral and recruitment curve, peripheral oxygen extraction, electromyographic signals through RMS (root mean square) and median frequency, and level of sensory discomfort with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The last session will consist of the same electrical stimulation protocol from the second session of assessment. From the second to the fifth session will be composed by the following evaluation sequence: warm-up with six submaximal contractions with 6 seconds of duration and 10 seconds of rest between them; then the assessment of muscle fatigue; then three maximal isometric contractions, then three maximal evoked contractions; fatigue protocol at 20% of the maximum isometric contraction (this fatigue protocol will use the NMES sequence randomized in the first session, except on the fifth day that the NMES protocol used will be the same as the second day); after the fatigue protocol, three maximum evoked contractions will be performed again; then three maximal isometric contractions and at the end, the muscle fatigue evaluation will be performed again. The NMES protocols will be CR10% (Russian Current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts), CR20% (Russian Current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 20% of duty cycle - 4 ms of bursts and interbusrts of 16 ms), CA10% (Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts), CA20% (Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 20% duty cycle - 4 ms bursts and 16 interbusrts) ms) all protocols will be performed on the triceps surae muscle.

Conditions

Fatigue

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Russian current 10%

Subjects will receive a interventions (Russian Current at 10% duty cycle). Evoked torque, muscle fatigue, sensory discomfort, and peripheral oxygen extraction will be evaluated.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Russian current 10%

Intervention Type: OTHER

Russian current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts

Russian current 20%

Subjects will receive a interventions (Russian Current at 20% duty cycle). Evoked torque, muscle fatigue, sensory discomfort, and peripheral oxygen extraction will be evaluated.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Russian current 20%

Intervention Type: OTHER

Russian current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 20% duty cycle - 4 ms bursts and 16 ms interbusrts

Aussie current 10%

Subjects will receive a interventions (Aussie Current at 10% duty cycle). Evoked torque, muscle fatigue, sensory discomfort, and peripheral oxygen extraction will be evaluated.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Aussie current 10%

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts

Aussie current 20%

Subjects will receive a interventions (Aussie Current at 20% duty cycle). Evoked torque, muscle fatigue, sensory discomfort, and peripheral oxygen extraction will be evaluated.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Aussie current 20%

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 20% duty cycle - 4 ms bursts and 16 ms interbusrts

Interventions

Russian current 10%

Russian current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts

Intervention Type: OTHER

Russian current 20%

Russian current with 2500 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 200 µs and 20% duty cycle - 4 ms bursts and 16 ms interbusrts

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aussie current 10%

Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 10% duty cycle - 2 ms bursts and 18 ms interbusrts

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aussie current 20%

Aussie current with 1000 Hz, modulated in bursts of 50 Hz, 500 µs and 20% duty cycle - 4 ms bursts and 16 ms interbusrts

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Female and male, aged between 18-40 years,
• Be classified as physically active according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ),
• The practice of just recreational physical activity,
• Achieve a minimum torque of 20% of the MVIC during the NMES
• Be at least three months without strength training

Exclusion Criteria

• Present musculoskeletal dysfunction that may interfere with the tests, present intolerance to NMES in the triceps surae muscle,
• Use analgesics, antidepressants, tranquilizers, or other centrally acting agents
• Present cardiovascular or peripheral vascular problems, chronic diseases, neurological or muscle disorders that may impair the complete execution of the study design by the volunteer

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Brasilia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

João Luiz Q. Durigan

Associate professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

João Durigan, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Brasilia

Locations

João Luiz Q. Durigan

Brasília, Brasil, Brazil

Countries

Brazil

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Other Identifiers

47989121.6.0000.8093

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id