Quantifying the Trainability of Peripheral Nerve Function in Young and Older Adults.

The purpose of this project is to identify the effects of hand grip resistance training on nerve speed of the hand muscles and to quantify whether age plays a role in those effects. Two groups (young and older adults) underwent a 4-week resistance training intervention with nerve conduction velocity measured before and after. There were also two control groups (young and older adults) who performed the testing 4 weeks apart, but did not engage in the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Aging; Nerve Degeneration
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Resistance Training

Detailed Description

Studies have shown that nerve speed slows with advancing age. As a result, slower nerves may result in slower movement speed and can alter response time. The investigators propose that a resistance training intervention may elicit positive adaptations to the nerves. The purpose of this project is to identify the effects of hand grip resistance training on nerve speed of the hand muscles and to quantify whether age plays a role in those effects. Two groups (young and older adults) underwent a 4-week, at-home, resistance training intervention with nerve conduction velocity (m/s) measured before and after. There were also two control groups (young and older adults) who performed the testing 4 weeks apart, but did not engage in the intervention. Other outcome measures included nerve size, via ultrasound, maximal handgrip strength, and hand dexterity.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 59
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oklahoma
    • Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States, 74078
      • Applied Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Apparently healthy adults 18 - 100 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

• If you have been notified by a physician to refrain from exercise due to cardiovascular issues.
• Known orthopedic or neuromuscular limitations or illness of the upper extremities.
• Known neuromuscular disorders.
• Individuals that are experiencing a fever (> 100.4° F) or have identified as symptomatic on the COVID-19 screening questionnaire may not participate at this time.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Young Training Group; Ages 18-35. Performed 4 weeks of an at-home, hand grip resistance training intervention.	Other: Resistance Training; Participants in the training groups performed bilateral hand grip resistance training three times per week for four weeks using a specialized hand-grip kit provided to them. Participants were provided with pictures and instructions for each exercise upon completion of the initial testing (PRE) session. They were asked to perform 12 training sessions (approximately 30-45 mins) over the 4 weeks according to their schedule. Each participant was asked to keep a training log to assist with accountability. Those assigned to the control groups were asked to maintain their normal daily activities throughout the four weeks.; Other Names: Exercise; Strength Training
No Intervention: Young Control Group; Ages 18-35. Did not perform the training intervention
Experimental: Older Training Group; Ages 60+. Performed 4 weeks of an at-home, hand grip resistance training intervention.	Other: Resistance Training; Participants in the training groups performed bilateral hand grip resistance training three times per week for four weeks using a specialized hand-grip kit provided to them. Participants were provided with pictures and instructions for each exercise upon completion of the initial testing (PRE) session. They were asked to perform 12 training sessions (approximately 30-45 mins) over the 4 weeks according to their schedule. Each participant was asked to keep a training log to assist with accountability. Those assigned to the control groups were asked to maintain their normal daily activities throughout the four weeks.; Other Names: Exercise; Strength Training
No Intervention: Older Control Group; Ages 60+. Did not perform the training intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Motor nerve conduction velocity (m/s)	Conduction velocity of the median nerve, via nerve stimulation, as measured through EMG at the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle	Before and after 4 weeks of training (or just 4 weeks, for controls)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Nerve cross-sectional area (mm^2)	The area within the visible borders of the nerve, as seen and measured via ultrasound	Before and after 4 weeks of training (or just 4 weeks, for controls)
Maximal strength (kg)	Maximal handgrip strength using a handgrip dynamometer	Before and after 4 weeks of training (or just 4 weeks, for controls)
Hand motor dexterity (seconds)	A timed Minnesota manual dexterity task	Before and after 4 weeks of training (or just 4 weeks, for controls)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Oklahoma State University
• Collaborators: American College of Sports Medicine - Central States Chapter
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jason M DeFreitas, PhD, Oklahoma State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 20, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 18, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): July 18, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): September 26, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2024
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nerve Degeneration
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-22-270

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