Upper Versus Lower Limb Cycling Exercise With Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Perceptual Responses, Energy Feelings

March 15, 2026 updated by: Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Abd El hady El Fahl,ph.d, MTI University

Upper Versus Lower Limb Cycling Exercise With Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Perceptual Responses, Energy Feelings in Young Adults

In comparing the two types of cycling exercises, the perceptual responses, such as perceived exertion and fatigue, as well as subjective feelings of energy, are crucial metrics. Lower limb cycling is traditionally associated with higher levels of exertion due to the larger muscle groups involved. However, when EMS is applied, both upper and lower limb cycling might exhibit altered perceptions of effort and energy levels, with EMS potentially equalizing the exertional differences. This research is significant for designing exercise programs that optimize energy expenditure and enhance performance, particularly in rehabilitative settings or for individuals looking to diversify their physical training regimens.

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.

Detailed Description

Perceptual responses, such as perceived exertion and enjoyment, play a critical role in exercise adherence and overall experience. By examining the differences in these responses between upper and lower limb cycling combined with EMS, we can identify which modality might be more favorable for maintaining motivation and engagement in young adults. This demographic is particularly crucial as they transition into lifelong fitness habits. Exploring how EMS impacts these perceptual responses can provide insights into optimizing exercise regimens for enhanced user experiences, potentially leading to better adherence and improved fitness outcomes.

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.
120

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

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt, 11311
        • faculty of physical therapy ,Cairo University

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:

  • Adults aged 18-45 years
  • No history of cardiovascular or musculoskeletal disorders
  • Physically active individuals with a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current use of medications affecting muscle function
  • Pregnant or lactating individuals
  • Involvement in other structured exercise programs

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

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: Upper Limb Cycling with EMS
Participants will perform cycling exercises using an arm ergometer combined with EMS applied to the upper limbs,Upper Limb Cycling with EMS: Participants will perform cycling exercises using an arm ergometer combined with EMS applied to the upper limbs. (Biceps, triceps, and deltoids) Jones et al., 2011
Other: Upper Limb Cycling with EMS
Upper Limb Cycling with EMS: Participants will perform cycling exercises using an arm ergometer combined with EMS applied to the upper limbs. (Biceps, triceps, and deltoids) Jones et al., 2011
Experimental: Lower Limb Cycling with EMS
Participants will engage in traditional cycling exercises using a stationary bike with EMS applied to the lower limbs,Lower Limb Cycling with EMS: Participants will engage in traditional cycling exercises using a stationary bike with EMS applied to the lower limbs. (Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles) Bax et al., 2005
Other: Lower Limb Cycling with EMS
Lower Limb Cycling with EMS: Participants will engage in traditional cycling exercises using a stationary bike with EMS applied to the lower limbs. (Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles)
Experimental: EMS upper and lower
electrical stimulation upper and lower
Other: EMS upper and lower
EMS applied to the lower limbs. (Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles) and EMS applied to the upper limbs. (Biceps, triceps, and deltoids)
No Intervention: Control group
No exercises or intervention

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
Perceptual Responses
Time Frame: at baseline and at 8 weeks
Assessed using the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale.
at baseline and at 8 weeks
Self-Perceived Energy Feeling
Time Frame: at baseline and at 8 weeks
(All participants will fill a short questionnaire (from 1 to 5 points) about their perception of energy before every training. Energy Feeling will be assessed (Evergy level, Fatigue Level, Feeling of Alertness, and Feeling of Focus for the task, valued from 1 = low energy to 5 = high energy).
at baseline and at 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Perception of Effort during Endurance Training
Time Frame: at baseline and at 8 weeks
(Borg Scale (6-20) will be used to collect the perception of effort during endurance training (every 5 minutes) and 15-20 minutes after each session).
at baseline and at 8 weeks
Blood lactate concentration
Time Frame: at baseline and at 8 weeks
measured using capillary puncture during submaximal and maximal incremental exercise
at baseline and at 8 weeks

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.
MTI University

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.
February 2, 2026

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.
March 2, 2026

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 3, 2026

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).
January 30, 2026

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.
January 30, 2026

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.
February 6, 2026

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.
March 17, 2026

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.
March 15, 2026

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.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • IRB # 29/7/2024-2025

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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