Impact of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Capacity to Perform Burpees

NCT ID: NCT06472882

Last Updated: 2024-06-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-01-06
• Study Completion Date: 2024-04-15

Brief Summary

Introduction and Background:

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential intervention to improve physical performance. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on performance in a maximal effort task, specifically the No Jump Burpee exercise.

Study Design:

This study will utilize a double-blind crossover design, where each subject will complete three experimental conditions: a-DLPFC, a-M1, and SHAM.

Participants:

Twenty healthy male subjects will be recruited for the study.

Intervention:

Each participant will undergo three conditions in a randomized order:

a-DLPFC: tDCS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

a-M1: tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex. SHAM: Placebo stimulation.

Procedure:

Prior to performing the No Jump Burpee exercise to exhaustion, tDCS will be administered at a current of 2 milliampere (mA) for 20 minutes.

Measurements:

The following variables will be measured during the exercise:

Total number of repetitions of the No Jump Burpee exercise. Vastus lateralis muscle oxygen saturation. Heart rate. Subjective perception of exertion (RPE).

Data Analysis:

Repeated measures ANOVAs will be used to analyze the effects of the different tDCS conditions on the performance outcomes.

Ethical Considerations:

The study protocol will be reviewed and approved by an appropriate ethics committee. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before participation in the study.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of tDCS on physical performance, specifically measuring the total number of repetitions of the No Jump Burpee exercise. Secondary objectives include assessing the changes in muscle oxygen saturation, heart rate, and subjective perception of exertion.

Conditions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Primary Motor Cortex

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

tDCS Targeting the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)

Participants in this arm will receive transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) targeting the DLPFC. The tDCS will be administered at an intensity of 2 mA for 20 minutes. This arm aims to evaluate the effects of DLPFC stimulation on performance during a maximal effort "No Jump Burpee" exercise.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

tDCS targeting DLPFC

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The anodic electrode will be placed on the left DLPFC (area F3) and the cathode on the right orbitofrontal cortex (area Fp2). Participants will receive 20 minutes of tDCS at 2 mA while seated.

tDCS Targeting the Primary Motor Cortex (M1)

Participants in this arm will receive transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) targeting the primary motor cortex (M1). The tDCS will be administered at an intensity of 2 mA for 20 minutes. This arm aims to evaluate the effects of M1 stimulation on performance during a maximal effort "No Jump Burpee" exercise.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

tDCS targeting M1

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The anodes will be placed over C3 and C4 (according to EEG 10-20 system), and the cathodes over the ipsilateral shoulders. Participants will receive 20 minutes of tDCS at 2 mA while seated.

SHAM tDCS

Participants in this arm will receive a sham tDCS session, which simulates the experience of tDCS without actual stimulation. This arm serves as a control to ensure the blinding of participants and evaluators.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

SHAM tDCS

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The electrodes will be placed as in the other conditions, but the stimulation will be switched off after 30 seconds, providing an initial stinging sensation without continuous stimulation.

Interventions

tDCS targeting DLPFC

The anodic electrode will be placed on the left DLPFC (area F3) and the cathode on the right orbitofrontal cortex (area Fp2). Participants will receive 20 minutes of tDCS at 2 mA while seated.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

tDCS targeting M1

The anodes will be placed over C3 and C4 (according to EEG 10-20 system), and the cathodes over the ipsilateral shoulders. Participants will receive 20 minutes of tDCS at 2 mA while seated.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

SHAM tDCS

The electrodes will be placed as in the other conditions, but the stimulation will be switched off after 30 seconds, providing an initial stinging sensation without continuous stimulation.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy subject.
• No use of any ergogenic substance.
• Participants must be recreationally active, defined as engaging in moderate physical activity at least 3 times per week for the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

• Any contraindications to transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, such as metallic implants in the head, active implanted medical devices (e.g., pacemakers), or skin conditions affecting the scalp.
• Current or recent (within the past 6 months) substance abuse, including alcohol or recreational drugs.
• Musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 weeks.
• Lower extremity pain above 3 or more according to numeric pain scale.
• History of epilepsy or convulsive crisis.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of A Coruna, La Coruna, Spain

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Salvador Romero Arenas

Ph.D.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Catholic University of Murcia

Guadalupe, Murcia, Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

PID2021-128204OA-I00-AEI/FEDER

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

ED431B 2021/28

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

CE-031908-A

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id