Validation of a Digital Twin Performing Strength Training

NCT04849923 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: Digital Twin
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 23
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Muscular strength training interventions have long been a cornerstone in the prevention, non-surgical management and rehabilitation of the entire spectrum of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases. The key goal of strength training, especially during rehabilitation, is to regain healthy musculoskeletal function. Yet, there remains a fundamental lack of understanding with regards to the relationship between subject-specific musculoskeletal biomechanics (i.e. multi-body dynamics function) and different types of strength training interventions because of limitations in assessing these parameters outside the research setting. Thus, clinicians, physiotherapists and coaches continue making training recommendations based on subjective and generalised guidelines, with ineffective or possibly harmful consequences for individual patients and athletes. Goal: This project aims to advance strength training guidelines and monitoring of training safety and efficiency by means of subject-specific anatomically-based modelling, biomechanical analysis of musculoskeletal function and mobile monitoring of training volume and muscular fatigue in the athletic and recreational setting. Method: For validation purposes, the investigators will conduct an 8-week intervention study in healthy volunteers with strength training of the key muscle-tendon groups associated with knee joint stability and relate the changes in musculoskeletal and biomechanical parameters to the training-specific parameters and muscular fatigue from mobile monitoring through correlation analysis. Relevance: In Switzerland, more than 1.3 Mio people are members of a fitness center. Strength training is not only a cornerstone in the maintenance of fitness and rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries and diseases as the most frequently reported health issues.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

strength training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Stop-and-go (SAG) Ability

  Change of the time for the stop and go task. Calculation: Post time minus pre time.

  8 weeks

• 20 m Sprint Performance

  Change of the Sprint time, s

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Jump Performance CMJ

  8 weeks

• Changes in Jump Performance SJ

  8 weeks

Study Arms (1)

2 trainings per week

EXPERIMENTAL

This group performs two strength training sessions per week

Other: Strength training session

Interventions

Strength training session OTHER

Conduct of an 6-week strength training intervention of key muscle-tendon groups associated with knee joint stability in the training-specific setting of each participant. Participants are asked to record exercise load and volume as well as monitor training-related variables and 1RM using the iOS Strength Control app. Participants perform the strength training self-directedly in their chosen fitness/training facilities as it fits into their weekly routine. Contact to the study investigator is ensured at all times in case of questions.

Also known as: resistance training

2 trainings per week

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy participants; and
• Age 20-40 years old; and
• No acute or chronic musculoskeletal symptoms or pain; and
• Experience with strength training (at least 1-year strength training experience with one training session per week or more); and
• Familiar with strength exercises of key muscles associated with knee joint stability.

You may not qualify if:

• Acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain; and/or
• Musculoskeletal surgery within the last 12 months; and/or
• Ongoing rehabilitation or treatment of musculoskeletal complaints or injury; and/or
• Neuromusculoskeletal disease (e.g. cerebral palsy); and/or
• Pregnancy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Silvio Lorenzetti: lead
• ZHAW School of Engineering: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Silvio Lorenzetti

Winterthur, Canton of Zurich, 8400, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Achermann BB, Regazzi N, Heynen R, Ludin D, Suter J, Drewek A, Lorenzetti SR. From Monitoring to Prediction: Velocity-Based Strength Training in Female Floorball Athletes. Sports (Basel). 2025 May 31;13(6):175. doi: 10.3390/sports13060175.

  PMID: 40559687 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Resistance Training

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Limitations and Caveats

Several limitations must be considered when interpreting the present findings. The small sample size (n = 17) and the absence of a control group limit the generalization of the results and preclude definitive causal inferences concerning the effectiveness of the interventions.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Silvio Lorenzetti
• Organization: ZHAW, School of Engineering

lort@zhaw.ch

+41 58 934 41 64

Study Officials

• Silvio Lorenzetti, Prof. Dr.

  ZHAW School of Engineering

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PI

Model Details: Originally the study was planed with three arms, however it was conducted as single arm study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2021
• First Posted: April 19, 2021
• Study Start: January 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2025
• Study Completion: November 27, 2025
• Last Updated: May 6, 2026
• Results First Posted: May 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CH (1)