Age-independent Decline in Manual Dexterity of Middle-aged and Older Adults

Aging Clinical Trial

Official title:

Age-independent Decline in Manual Dexterity of Middle-aged and Older Adults

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Withdrawn

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03803566
• Other study ID #: 18-0269
• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 2025
• Est. completion date: July 2026

Study information

• Verified date: November 2021
• Source: University of Colorado, Boulder
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate the mediating influence of force control on the pegboard times of adults (50-89 years) who are stratified into groups of faster and slower pegboard times. The hypothesis is that practice of either a pegboard test or a force-control task will reduce pegboard times, but the decrease will be greater and less similar after the two practice interventions for the slower group of participants. The outcomes are expected to demonstrate that force control is a modifiable mediator of pegboard times for this cohort, but the effect will be stronger for the group with faster pegboard times.

Description:

The study will involve a randomized, cross-over design with a one-week washout between arms. The two arms (3 weeks each) will comprise practice of the grooved pegboard test and practice of steady contractions while lifting and lowering light loads with a hand muscle. Randomization into practice order will be accomplished with a block approach (block size = 4) for each of the two groups. The outcome assessors will be blinded to practice order. The outcomes will comprise three tests of manual dexterity and the measurement of force control during submaximal contractions. The outcomes will be obtained before and after the six sessions in each practice arm.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Withdrawn
• Enrollment: 0
• Est. completion date: July 2026
• Est. primary completion date: November 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 50 Years to 89 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to read, write, and speak English

• Able to arrange transportation to the Boulder campus

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive impairment

• Major psychiatric condition

• Unstable depressive disorder

• Progressive neurological, muscular, cardiovascular, or skeletal disorder

• Chronic pain condition

• Currently taking medication known to influence neuromuscular function

• Recent hospitalization

• Unable to attend 12 practice sessions in 6 weeks

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aging

Intervention

Other:
• Pegboard practice
Practice of the grooved pegboard test
• Force control practice
Practice performing steady muscle contractions

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Colorado Boulder	Boulder	Colorado

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Colorado, Boulder

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Grooved pegboard test	Time to complete the test as quickly as possible	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Primary	9-hole pegboard test	Time to complete the test as quickly as possible	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Primary	Jebsen Hand Function test	Time to complete the test as quickly as possible	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Primary	Force control	The coefficient of variation for force when subjects exert a constant submaximal force	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Secondary	EMG amplitude	Absolute amplitude of the electromyographic (EMG) signal for the involved muscles during the steady contractions	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Secondary	MVC force	The peak force exerted during a maximal isometric contractions	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Secondary	1-RM load	The maximal weight that can be lifted once	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Secondary	Index finger acceleration	The average standard deviation of index finger acceleration in the abduction-adduction plane when a light load is being lifted and lowered during the practice intervention	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7
Secondary	Motor unit discharge rates	The discharge times of action potentials by motor units during the steady submaximal contractions	Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7