Combination of Strength and Sensorimotor Training

Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Combinations of Strength and Sensorimotor Training: Effects on Strength, Power and Balance

AIM:

Strengthening and sensorimotor training (e.g with the aim to improve balance) are widely used in rehabilitation. There is little knowledge about the best ways to combine strengthening and sensorimotor training. Therefore, the investigators want to evaluate two types of combinations in healthy participants.

Interventions:

• Group A: 1.) warm-up; 2.) sensorimotor training; 3.) strength training (nine sessions in four weeks)
• Group B: 1.) warm-up; 2.) one strengthening exercise, followed by a sensorimotor exercise, alternating (nine sessions in four weeks)

Tests (Before first training and after four weeks):

• isokinetic test of knee extensors and flexors (60°/s; 120°/s; 180°/s; 240°/s.)
• squat jumps and countermovement jumps
• static balance test on an unstable underground (measured with accelerometer)
• dynamic balance: star excursion balance test, (a) on stable ground, (b) on unstable ground. Balance tests will be performed (c) in recovered state and (d) fatigue (i.e. after a fatiguing exercise).

Hypotheses

1. Group B (alternating sensorimotor and strength exercises) will improve more in the balance tests than Group A (sensorimotor first, strength afterwards).
2. Group B will improve more in the countermovement jump than Group A.
3. There will be no differences in the improvements in the strength, power and squat jump tests between the two groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Subjects
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sensorimotor training first, followed by strength exercises; Other: Strength exercises and sensorimotor exercises alternated

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Valais
    • Leukerbad, Valais, Switzerland, 3954
      • School of Physiotherapy, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland, Valais

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to perform strength and sensorimotor training
• At least 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Injury that does not allow training and testing
• Illness that does not allow training and testing
• Pregnancy
• Pain during exercising

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: A Sensorimotor first; In each of nine sessions: first sensorimotor exercises, then strengthening exercises	Other: Sensorimotor training first, followed by strength exercises; nine sessions of one hour duration
EXPERIMENTAL: B Sensorimotor & strength alternated; In each of nine sessions: Strength and sensorimotor exercises alternated	Other: Strength exercises and sensorimotor exercises alternated; nine sessions of one hour

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in Dynamic Balance measured with the Star Excursion Balance Test	From baseline to four weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in height with counter-movement jump	From baseline to four weeks
Change in height with squat jump	From baseline to four weeks
Change in force development (Nm) in knee extensors and knee flexors	From baseline to four weeks
Change in Power knee extensors and knee flexors	From baseline to four weeks
Change in Static Balance (single leg stance on unstable ground)	From baseline to four weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jonas Meng, cand. BSc., University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Valais; Principal Investigator: Alain Amacker, cand. BSc., University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): December 1, 2008
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): December 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 20, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 20, 2008
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): October 21, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): January 29, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2009
• Last Verified: January 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Balance; sensorimotor training; Strengthening
• Other Study ID Numbers: BA06-01