Improving Motor Skills: The Role of Music and Encouragement

April 18, 2024 updated by: Luca Puce, Universita degli Studi di Genova

Improving Motor Task Performance: Music and Verbal Encouragement as Catalysts - Highlights From Electromyographic Analysis

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
25

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Genova, Italy, 16122
        • Universita degli Studi di Genova

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

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.

-

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria included a history of surgery to the arm, shoulder, or nearby areas that could limit the ability to perform the test. The use of medications that affect muscle function or pain perception was also a reason for exclusion, so that the test results could not be influenced by external factors.

-

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Task with music
Endurance isometric exercise performed to selected music.
Other: Isometric Task
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.
Experimental: Task with verbal encouragement
Endurance isometric exercise performed with verbal encouragement.
Other: Isometric Task
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.
Experimental: Task without motivational feedback
Task without motivational feedback.
Other: Isometric Task
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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Duration of the task
Time Frame: 60 seconds
task duration expressed in seconds
60 seconds
Biceps Brachii muscle fatigue
Time Frame: 60 seconds
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 Frame: 60 seconds
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 Frame: 60 seconds
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 Frame: 60 seconds
time-course evolution of the amplitude (Root Mean Square [microvolt]) of the sEMG signal measured for Triceps Brachii muscle
60 seconds

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Universita degli Studi di Genova

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 5, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 18, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 18, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 23, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 23, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 18, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • VEM-DINOGMI-24

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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