Differences and Changes in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Ankle Stability in Different Blackboard Configurations

NCT06425185 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1271077
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to analyze the differences in muscle activation of six muscles of the lower leg (soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis) in seven possible configurations of a specific instability device, the Blackboard (BB), as well as on the floor, among healthy active subjects. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Which configuration of the BB produces the highest activation for each studied muscle?
2. 2.Which muscle is the most activated in each configuration of the BB?
3. 3.What is the muscle activation pattern obtained in each configuration of the BB?

Conditions

Electromyography

Keywords

Ankle stability; Muscle activation; Instability device; Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• nEMG level of six leg muscles during single-leg stance across eight different conditions

  The electrode placement area will be shaved and cleaned with alcohol. Muscles analyzed will include soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus and peroneus brevis. The MuscleLab 4020e, Ergotest Technology AS surface electromyography device will be used, and adhesive electrode placement will follow SENIAM guidelines. Muscle activity will be recorded during 3 periods of 20" with 30" of rest in between. The single-leg stance will be done on the Floor condition and on the 7 instability configurations of the BB. The central 10" of the measurement will be used for subsequent analysis. The electromyography signal will be processed and cleaned, and the maximum value registered will be subsequently normalized by the muscle activation obtained during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction, yielding the normalized electromyography (nEMG) for each muscle. The average of the three attempts will be the value used for statistical analysis.

  Immediately after the MIVC test, during the single evaluation session, with an approximate duration of 30 minutes (20 minutes of measurement duration, plus time for familiarization and subject preparation)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Maximum value of muscle activation of six leg muscles during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction

  Immediately after the warm-up, during the single evaluation session, with an approximate duration of 40 minutes (36 minutes of measurement duration, plus time for familiarization and subject preparation)

Study Arms (1)

Cross-sectional study group

The study group consists of 30 subjects who are free from any specific medical condition or injury affecting the lower extremities. These subjects are physically active individuals without any known musculoskeletal disorders or impairments. They all will be assessed in the same way. Data collection will take place during single-leg stance on the BB in its different configurations and on the floor. Three attempts of 20 seconds each will be recorded for each condition. The subjects will perform these exercises under the guidance of a trained physiotherapist.

Other: Single-leg stance under different instability conditions

Interventions

Single-leg stance under different instability conditions OTHER

Participants will perform three attempts of 20 seconds of single-leg stance on the floor and on the 7 selected configurations of the BB. The order of measurement will be randomized. The description of the chosen configurations can be found in the Detailed Description section. In all cases, the participant's objective is to ensure that the edges of the BB are not in contact with the floor. The position of the participant on the BB will be a single-leg stance on the randomly chosen foot, with the contralateral knee slightly flexed and hands placed on the hips. Participants will look at a fixed point placed 3 meters in front of them. A rest period of 30 seconds will be allowed between trials. The physiotherapist responsible for supervising the measurements will be the one to adjust the BB configurations when needed.

Cross-sectional study group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The participants are being sourced from the Faculty of Physiotherapy of the University of Valencia. They are undergraduate or master's students who have responded to an email invitation sent by one of the professors from the department involved in the study.

You may qualify if:

• Not to have experienced lower limb injury or pain within the last year prior to the study
• Self-report as physically active, such that they perform at least 90 minutes of weekly physical activity

You may not qualify if:

• Previous participation in any lower limb balance or proprioception exercise program
• The presence of known balance impairments such as vertigo, vestibular or central alterations

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Valencia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Rodrigo Martin-San Agustin

Valencia, Spain

Location

Study Officials

• Rodrigo Martín-San Agustín, Doctor

  University of Valencia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 12, 2024
• First Posted: May 22, 2024
• Study Start: April 9, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2024
• Study Completion: May 31, 2024
• Last Updated: June 3, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Locations

ES (1)