Brain and Muscle Plasticity During Immobilization

Muscle Atrophy Clinical Trial

Official title:

Examining Changes in Muscle Size and Strength, Neuromuscular Function, and Brain Plasticity During Limb Immobilization in Women

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05115643
• Other study ID #: A00-M01-21A
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 8, 2021
• Est. completion date: April 21, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: May 2022
• Source: McGill University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Patients in rehabilitation may undergo periods of prolonged limb immobilization in response to injury, surgery, or illness. Due to disuse, the size and strength of muscles controlling the affected limb can decrease significantly, possibly resulting in physical impairment or lower quality of life during the recovery phase. Prior immobilization studies have shown that the rate and degree of decline in muscle strength exceeds that of muscle size, indicating that determinants of muscle strength unrelated to muscle size may further contribute to functional changes during immobilization.

The purpose of this study is to describe the changes in muscle strength, muscle size, corticospinal excitability, voluntary activation, M1 cortical thickness, and resting state functional connectivity following a 2-week limb immobilization period in young women.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 12
• Est. completion date: April 21, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: April 21, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Biologically female

• Right-hand dominant

• Body mass index between 18.5-30 kg/m^2 (inclusive)

• Regular menstrual cycle

• Be able to maintain a habitual diet throughout the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of tobacco

• Pregnancy

• A history of brain trauma

• Suffers from a neurological disease or movement disorder

• Peripheral nerve damage

• Use of medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e., corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or prescription strength acne medications)

• Diagnosed with or suspects having a psychiatric illness

• Use of dietary supplements known to affect muscle size (i.e., creatine, fish oil)

• Past or present diagnosis of an eating disorder by a physician or registered dietician

• Possesses any metal implants (e.g. artificial joints, pacemakers, stents) or non-removeable medical devices that are contraindicative for magnetic resonance imaging (e.g. insulin pumps)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Muscle Atrophy
• Muscular Atrophy

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Immobilization
Immobilization of left arm using a brace and sling.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition Research Laboratory	Montreal	Quebec

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
McGill University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	2-day caloric and macronutrient intake, before immobilization	Obtained using self-reported dietary intake records	Measured during the 2-day period right before left arm immobilization
Other	2-day caloric and macronutrient intake, during immobilization	Obtained using self-reported dietary intake records	Measured during the last 2 days of left arm immobilization
Other	Ovarian hormone concentrations (estradiol, progesterone)	Obtained using blood samples	Measured on day of left arm immobilization, before putting on the arm brace
Other	Ovarian hormone concentrations (estradiol, progesterone)	Obtained using blood samples	Measured after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Primary	Change in isometric elbow flexion and extension peak torque, both arms	Measured using an isokinetic dynamometer; peak torque during static contraction of the elbow flexors and extensors	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Primary	Change in isokinetic elbow flexion and extension peak torque, both arms	Measured using an isokinetic dynamometer; peak torque during dynamic contraction of the elbow flexors and extensors	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Primary	Change in cross-sectional area of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles, both arms	Obtained from magnetic resonance images of each arm	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Primary	Change in volume of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles, both arms	Obtained from magnetic resonance images of each arm	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Primary	Voluntary activation of biceps brachii, both arms	Measured using peripheral nerve stimulation and an isokinetic dynamometer; estimation of the capacity to voluntarily activate the force-generating elements of the biceps brachii during maximal effort elbow flexion	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Primary	Change in corticospinal excitability of biceps brachii, both arms	Measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation; estimation of the efficacy of the corticospinal tract to relay electrical signals to the biceps brachii muscle	Comparison between before immobilization and 24 hours of left arm immobilization, and before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Secondary	Change in right and left primary motor cortex thickness	Obtained from magnetic resonance image of the brain	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization
Secondary	Change in whole brain resting state functional connectivity	Obtained from magnetic resonance image of the brain	Comparison between before and after 2 weeks of left arm immobilization