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

Part of paid clinical trials in Columbia, Missouri.

Sponsor
University of Missouri-Columbia
Study ID
NCT06689618
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Aging
  • Sarcopenia
  • Sarcopenia in Elderly

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Exercise — DEVICE
    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.

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 18, 2025
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
May 31, 2026
Completion
Jun 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
12 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Healthy Adults
    All participants will receive the WB-EMS Exercise intervention 2 times per week for 4 weeks. Participants will only perform leveled exercise programs in the "Strength" Training Mode. These programs are 20-minute videos led by exercise professionals. They are full-body workouts with no one muscle group receiving more attention than another. They consist of 10-12 exercises performed for 14 repetitions. Each repetition takes 4 seconds to complete (the time that the stimulation is "on") and is followed by a 4 second rest (the time that the stimulation is "off"). All exercises occur in a double-limb stance position. Most exercises occur with feet in wide base of support, hips width or more apart. All exercises are modifiable by the healthcare professional administering and monitoring the intervention based on participant's safe and available range of motion (i.e. arm movements, torso positions, extent of knee bend).

Primary Outcome Measure

Mean change from baseline in motor unit firing rates of the vastus lateralis using decomposition electromyography (dEMG) [ Time Frame: Measured within 3 days of starting the intervention and within 3 days of completing the intervention ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science UnitColumbiaMissouri65211
Manny Morales
[email protected]
573-882-8571
Stacee Baker
[email protected]
Kristina M Kelly, DPT, MS (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
W. David Arnold, MD (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science Unit· Columbia, MO

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