Impacts and Mechanisms of Age and Muscle Fatigue on Postural Control and Force Control

NCT07405060 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 202200723A3
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Muscle fatigue is one of the clinical symptoms in elderly people and demonstrates task dependency and muscle dependency. Muscle fatigue has been shown to negatively impact postural control, physical activity, and quality of life. However, the evidence for the influence of muscle fatigue on postural control is limited and inconsistent in elderly people. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impacts of aging and muscle fatigue on postural control and gait performance with fatiguing exercises of upper and lower extremities.

Conditions

Aging; Muscle Fatigue

Keywords

old; fatigability; muscle force; balance; gait performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

• Maximal force

  The maximal force of upper and lower extremity muscles

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• Walking speed

  The time taken by participants to walk a standardized distance

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• Step Length

  The linear distance between the two ankles, typically expressed in centimeter(cm).

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• Cadence

  The number of steps taken per minute (SPM)

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• Single Support Time

  The duration within the gait cycle when only one foot is in contact with the ground, typically measured in seconds or as a percentage of the total gait cycle.

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• Double Support Time

  The portion of the gait cycle where both feet are in contact with the ground, indicating the transition phase between steps, expressed as a percentage of the gait cycle or in seconds.

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• Swing Time

  The portion of the gait cycle where the foot is not in contact with the ground, moving forward to the next step. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the total gait cycle or in seconds.

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• COP Velocity in Balance Tasks

  The speed at which the COP moves, calculated over the duration of the balance task. Higher velocities may reflect more dynamic balance adjustments or instability. Unit：millimeter per second(mm/s)

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

• COP Area in Balance Tasks

  The area covered by the COP trajectory during the balance task, providing an estimate of the sway envelope. A larger area might indicate poorer balance control. Unit：square millimeter(mm\^2)

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol) and immediately after the fatigue protocol

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Oxygenated hemoglobin

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol), during the fatigue protocol, and immediately after the fatigue protocol.

• Total hemoglobin

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol), during the fatigue protocol, and immediately after the fatigue protocol.

• Deoxygenated hemoglobin

  Baseline (pre-fatigue protocol), during the fatigue protocol, and immediately after the fatigue protocol.

Study Arms (1)

Healthy people

General healthy people aged 20-40 and 60-85 years.

Other: Age; Other: Muscle fatigue

Interventions

Age OTHER

We compare the young and the old groups

Healthy people

Muscle fatigue OTHER

We compare the results before and after muscle fatigue

Healthy people

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

This study recruits healthy elderly individuals and healthy young individuals

You may qualify if:

• to 40 years (young), and 60-85 years (old)
• walk independently
• able to follow commands (Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores greater than 21
• able and willing to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• pregnancy
• neurologic, psychiatric, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, immune, integumentary disease or disorder which might influence this study
• any current loss of sensation in the arms, wrists, hands, fingers, hips, knees, ankles or toes
• any pain at the time of testing
• any restriction in range of motion of lower extremity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chang Gung Memorial Hospital: lead
• Chang Gung University: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Taoyuan District, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Chang Gung University

Taoyuan District, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Aging; Muscle Fatigue

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Growth and Development; Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Chu-Ling Yen

  Chang Gung University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Chu-Ling Yen

CONTACT

886-3-2118800; clyen@mail.cgu.edu.tw

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2026
• First Posted: February 12, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2028
• Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

TW (2)