Improving Motor Skills: The Role of Music and Encouragement

NCT06380088 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: VEM-DINOGMI-24
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study used a randomised crossover design to analyse the effect of three different experimental interventions - i.e. standard conditions, music and verbal encouragement - on performance in an isometric endurance task, comparing results between untrained and trained individuals. The interval between each intervention was set at seven days. The outcome measures are muscle activity and fatigue, assessed by surface electromyography, and task duration. Isometric endurance task requires participants to keep their arm flexed at a 90° angle while holding a dumbbell with a supine grip loaded to 80% of 1RM on the dominant side of the body. During execution, the back and head should remain in contact with a vertical wall, with the feet shoulder width apart and firmly planted on the floor. The bar is held with the dominant arm while the other arm remains in a neutral position close to the body. It is imperative to avoid any form of rocking or movement that would make it easier to maintain the position. The test officially begins when the bar is handed to the subject, who is already in the correct position, and ends as soon as the angle of the arm varies by more than five degrees from the starting position.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

muscle fatigue; Neuromuscular Strategy; performance; sEMG; Motor recruitment; Motivation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Duration of the task

  task duration expressed in seconds

  60 seconds

• Biceps Brachii muscle fatigue

  time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF \[Hz\]) of the sEMG signal measured for Biceps Brachii muscle

  60 seconds

• Triceps Brachii muscle fatigue

  time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF \[Hz\]) of the sEMG signal measured for Triceps Brachii muscle

  60 seconds

• Biceps Brachii activity

  time-course evolution of the amplitude (Root Mean Square \[microvolt\]) of the sEMG signal measured for Biceps Brachii muscle

  60 seconds

• Triceps Brachii activity

  time-course evolution of the amplitude (Root Mean Square \[microvolt\]) of the sEMG signal measured for Triceps Brachii muscle

  60 seconds

Study Arms (3)

Task with music

EXPERIMENTAL

Endurance isometric exercise performed to selected music.

Other: Isometric Task

Task with verbal encouragement

EXPERIMENTAL

Endurance isometric exercise performed with verbal encouragement.

Other: Isometric Task

Task without motivational feedback

EXPERIMENTAL

Task without motivational feedback.

Other: Isometric Task

Interventions

Isometric Task OTHER

The exercise required participants to keep their arm flexed at a 90° angle while holding a dumbbell loaded to 80% of their 1RM (One Rep Max) in a supine position on the dominant side of the body for as long as possible.

Task with music; Task with verbal encouragement; Task without motivational feedback

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 27 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• To be included in the study, candidates had to be in good general health, with no medical conditions that could interfere with their ability to perform the test safely and effectively. In addition, to be considered trained, participants had to have performed 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, in addition to muscle-strengthening activities, on at least two days per week. Those who did not meet this standard were considered untrained.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universita degli Studi di Genova: lead

Study Sites (1)

Università degli Studi di Genova

Genova, 16122, Italy

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 18, 2024
• First Posted: April 23, 2024
• Study Start: July 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: August 5, 2023
• Study Completion: March 15, 2024
• Last Updated: April 23, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)