Neural Adaptations to a Single Session of Metronome-Paced Strength Training

NCT06539650 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AcuteMETROTRAIN - 1404
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of incorporating variability within a single session of Resistance Training (RT) methods on the neural adaptations along the corticospinal tract and on neuromuscular function. The literature suggests that RTis one of the most common modalities to enhance and restore muscle function and its practice results in adaptation in neural and morphological adaptations. Moreover, it is also known that muscle contraction relies on the coordination and regulation of the descending neural drive from the motor cortex to the motoneurons and from the motoneurons to the muscles. However, traditional RT programs tend not to address this motor control dimension. Recent approaches such as metronome paced strength training have been used to cover this motor control dimension through a greater control and consciousness of movement. However, this methodology tends not to incorporate the inherent variability and complex, fractal-like fluctuations that characterize human movement. The investigators propose that incorporating variability through a fractal-like metronome approach will speed up the neural adaptations which will be useful in injury rehab

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Motor Control; Neuroscience; Neural Adapatations; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Dynamic Systems; Metronome Paced Strength Training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Corticospinal Excitability (CSE) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  CSE is a parameter extracted through the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This parameter provides information regarding the level of excitability of the corticospinal tract.

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (SICI) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  SICI is a parameter extracted through the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This parameter provides information regarding the level of inhibition within the motor cortex.

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Corticospinal Silent Period (CSP) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  CSP is a parameter extracted through the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This parameter provides information regarding the level of inhibition along the corticospinal tract.

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Intracortical Facilitation (ICF) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  ICF is a parameter extracted through the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This parameter provides information regarding the level of facilitation within the motor cortex.

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Lumbar Evoked Potentials (LEP) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  LEP is a measure extracted through the aplication of Lumbar stimulation. This measure allow to distinguish the adaptations that occur at spinal level as a result of strength training.

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Maximal Compound Action Potentials (Mmax) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  Mmax is a measure assessed through peripheral nerve stimulation and represents the maximal capacity of recruit the motoneurons that innerve a muscle

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Sample Entropy (SampEn) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

• Coefficient ov variation (CV) changes Pre-to-Post intervention both within and between Fractal paced, Isochronus Paced and Self paced conditions

  PRE (before intervention), POST (immediately after the intervention) and POST 60 (60 minutes after the intervention)

Study Arms (3)

Fractal Paced

EXPERIMENTAL

Strength training in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with a fractal-like visual metronome, i.e., a metronome presenting visual external cues with variability within its temporal structure.

Other: Fractal Paced

Isochronous Paced

EXPERIMENTAL

Strength training in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with a isochronus visual metronome, i.e., a metronome presenting visual external cues withthe same pace in each repetition (without variability)

Other: Isochronus Paced

Self Paced

EXPERIMENTAL

Strength training in single leg extension machine at participants self pace.

Other: Self Paced

Interventions

Fractal Paced OTHER

The intervention consists in a single session of metronome paced strength training composed by 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with fractal external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Fractal Paced

Isochronus Paced OTHER

The intervention consists in a single session of metronome paced strength training composed by 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, synchronizing each repetition with isochronus external cues presented by a visual metronome. The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Isochronous Paced

Self Paced OTHER

The intervention consists in a single session of strength training composed by 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 65% of the one-repetition maximal (1RM) in single leg extension machine, at at participants' own self pace (with no metronome). The rest between sets will be set at 2 minutes of rest between sets.

Self Paced

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• healthy males
• aged between 18 and 40 years

You may not qualify if:

• Neurologic conditions;
• Lower limb disabilities or disease;
• Not able to provide informed consent;
• Have an implanted device (e.g. pacemakers) or any metal in the body;
• Medication advised against the application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation;
• History/family history of seizures, brain lesions or head trauma, neurological or psychiatric diseases, epilepsy, migraine

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL: lead
• Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia: collaborator
• University of Essex: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Egas Moniz School of Health & Science

Almada, Monte de Caparica, 2829-699, Portugal

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 29, 2024
• First Posted: August 6, 2024
• Study Start: July 22, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: July 31, 2025
• Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)