Neural Adaptations to Metronome-Paced Strength Training

NCT ID: NCT06532786

Last Updated: 2026-01-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-09-15
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-31

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of incorporating variability within Resistance Training (RT) methods on the neural adaptations along the corticospinal tract and on neuromuscular function. The literature suggests that RTis one of the most common modalities to enhance and restore muscle function and its practice results in adaptation in neural and morphological adaptations. It is also known that conditions such as ageing and injury have a negative impact on neural drive to the muscles with consequences at motor control level that are not addressed by traditional RT. Recent approaches such as metronome paced strength training have been used to cover this motor control dimension through a greater control and consciousness of movement. However, this methodology tends not to incorporate the inherent variability and complex, fractal-like fluctuations that characterize human movement. The investigators propose that incorporating variability through a fractal-like metronome approach will speed up the neural adaptations which will be useful in injury rehab.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Fractal Paced

Strength training in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with a fractal-like visual metronome, i.e., a metronome presenting visual external cues with variability within its temporal structure.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Fractal Paced

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention consists in a metronome-paced strength training session performed 3 times per week (with 48h of rest between sessions), during 4 weeks. Each session consists in 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with fractal external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Isochronous Paced

Strength training in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with a isochronus visual metronome, i.e., a metronome presenting visual external cues withthe same pace in each repetition (without variability)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Isochronous Paced

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention consists in a metronome-paced strength training session performed 3 times per week (with 48h of rest between sessions), during 4 weeks. Each session consists in 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) single in leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with isochronus external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Self Paced

Strength training in single leg extension machine at participants self pace.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Self Paced

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention consists in a metronome-paced strength training session performed 3 times per week (with 48h of rest between sessions), during 4 weeks. Each session consists in 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, at their own self pace (with no metronome). The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Interventions

Fractal Paced

The intervention consists in a metronome-paced strength training session performed 3 times per week (with 48h of rest between sessions), during 4 weeks. Each session consists in 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with fractal external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Isochronous Paced

The intervention consists in a metronome-paced strength training session performed 3 times per week (with 48h of rest between sessions), during 4 weeks. Each session consists in 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) single in leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with isochronus external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Self Paced

The intervention consists in a metronome-paced strength training session performed 3 times per week (with 48h of rest between sessions), during 4 weeks. Each session consists in 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, at their own self pace (with no metronome). The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• aged between 18 and 40 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Neurologic conditions;
• Lower limb disabilities or disease;
• Not able to provide informed consent;
• Have an implanted device (e.g. pacemakers) or any metal in the body;
• Medication advised against the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation;
• History/family history of seizures, brain lesions or head trauma, neurological or psychiatric diseases, epilepsy, migraine

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

Sponsors

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Egas Moniz School of Health & Science

Almada, Monte de Caparica, Portugal

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Portugal

Central Contacts

João H Oliveira, MSc

Role: CONTACT

joao.henriques.oliveira@gmail.com

913266232 ext. +351

João R Vaz, PhD

Role: CONTACT

jvaz@egasmoniz.edu.pt

967096444 ext. +351

Facility Contacts

João R. Vaz, PhD

Role: primary

jvaz@egasmoniz.edu.pt

967096444 ext. +351

Other Identifiers

METROTRAIN - 1403

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id