Specific Neurotechnical Strength Training (NeuroTraining)

Specific Neurotechnical Strength Training: Randomized Controlled Trial (NeuroTraining)

This study aims to apply a novel study methodology using high density electromyography (HDEMG) to know what are the mechanisms underlying the structural and functional changes obtained by two different training methods, commonly used, facilitating their understanding, study and subsequent application according to specific needs.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neuromuscular Adaptations
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Speed Loss 20% Strength Training; Other: Reduced Rest Time Strength Training

Detailed Description

Different training methodologies have previously shown similar results in the improvement of structural or functional characteristics such as hypertrophy or strength. However, the different nature of their methods has suggested for years the possibility that different neuromuscular mechanisms could be behind these observed characteristics.

The development of a new technology, such as high-density electromyography (HDEMG), capable of studying new properties previously hidden from assessment methods, such as the speed of nerve impulse propagation or the frequency of motor unit discharge, has allowed a more thorough study of the mechanisms.

This study aims to apply this new study methodology to know what are the mechanisms underlying the changes at the structural and functional level obtained by two different training methods, commonly used, facilitating their understanding, study and subsequent application according to specific needs.

For this reason, the main hypothesis is the generation of different neuromuscular mechanisms and adaptations by executing, for 4 weeks, two different training methodologies, obtaining a dissociation between the results obtained at the structural level (hypertrophy), functional (generation of strength) and HDEMG analysis of the central and peripheral characteristics of the neuromuscular system in each of the programs studied.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Antonio I Cuesta-Vargas, PhD; Phone Number: +34 951952852; Email: acuesta@uma.es
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Adrian Escriche-Escuder, MSc; Phone Number: +34 951953353; Email: adrianescriche@uma.es

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Malaga, Spain, 29009
    • Health Science School , University of Malaga

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-35 years
• men

Exclusion Criteria:

• physical exercise that involves work of upper limbs during the time of the intervention
• upper limb injury during the previous 12 months
• systemic diseases

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Speed Loss 20% Group; The SL20% group will carry out a program based on the limitation of the speed loss, allowing to perform the exercise only until a speed loss of 20% is achieved, following a similar methodology previously published (Pareja-Blanco et al., 2017). The program will consist of a job for 4 weeks, with a frequency of 2 sessions a week. In each session, a 6-series routine with an open number of repetitions will be carried out twice, allowing as many repetitions as possible to perform until a 20% loss of execution speed is reached. The intensity of work will be 70% 1RM, resting 4 minutes between sets. As an only exercise, an elbow flexion (bicep curl) with dumbbell will be performed.	Other: Speed Loss 20% Strength Training; Strength training based on the control of speed loss in execution.
Experimental: Reduced Rest Time Group; The RRT group will carry out a program based on the reduction of rest time between series, following a previously published methodology (Stragier et al., 2019). The program will consist of a job for 4 weeks, with a frequency of 2 sessions a week. In each session, a 5 series routine with progressive repetition volume (3 to 7) at 70% 1RM will be performed twice, resting 15 seconds between sets and 150 seconds between each of the 2 blocks. The exercise to be performed will be an elbow flexion (bicep curl) with dumbbell.	Other: Reduced Rest Time Strength Training; Strength training based on a protocol that includes reduced rest times between sets.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline Mean Discharge Rate of Brachialis Biceps Motor Units at 4 weeks	The mean discharge rate of the Brachialis Biceps motor units will be evaluated using a high density electromyography device (HDEMG). For this, the signal produced during isometric contractions at different submaximal force levels (10, 30, 50, and 70%) will be recorded, using an external analog to digital signal converter Sessantaquattro (64-channel EMG amplifier; OT Bioelettronica, Turin, Italy).	Baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks after baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Speed of propagation of Brachialis Biceps Motor Units	As a measure of evaluation of the peripheral characteristics of the neuromuscular system, the propagation speed of the action potentials produced by an HDEMG device will be evaluated. For this, the signal produced during isometric contractions at different submaximal force levels (10, 30, 50, and 70%) will be recorded, using the external analog to digital signal converter Sessantaquattro	Baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks after baseline)
Isometric force of Brachialis Biceps using hand dynamometer	The isometric force at 0º, 45º and 90º will be evaluated during a maximum test of 5 seconds using a digital manual dynamometer. The peak force obtained will be obtained.	Baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks after baseline)
Isometric force of Brachialis Biceps using s-beam load cell	The isometric force at 90º will also be evaluated through an S-type load cell (Biometrics Ltd., Newport, United Kingdom). In addition, the time needed to obtain the peak force achieved will be recorded.	Baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks after baseline)
Muscle thickness (thickness) of the brachial biceps using ultrasound	Structural changes will be evaluated through an innocuous procedure such as ultrasound. To do this, ultrasound images will be recorded to measure the muscular and adipose thickness of the arm musculature.	Baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks after baseline)
Arm circumference	A variable related to structural changes such as arm circumference will also be evaluated. For this, the circumference will be recorded through a measuring tape at the average distance between the acromion and the olecranon.	Baseline and post-intervention (4 weeks after baseline)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Malaga
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Antonio I Cuesta-Vargas, PhD, University of Malaga

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): October 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): February 26, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 7, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2023
• Last Verified: February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Strength training; Neuromuscular adaptation
• Other Study ID Numbers: NEUROTRAINING

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No