Actively Recruiting
Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Spinal Motoneuronal Activation in Older Adults
Led by University of Missouri-Columbia · Updated on 2026-02-17
12
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
41 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
During this pilot study, the investigators will examine the effects of whole-body electrical muscle stimulation exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) on motoneuronal activation in healthy adults, which typically decreases with age. The investigators will also test whether WB-EMS Exercise will improve measures of physical function. Participants will undergo clinical and electrophysiologic testing before and after the WB-EMS Exercise intervention. The WB-EMS Exercise intervention will be delivered two times per week for four weeks. The hypothesis is that whole-body electrical muscle stimulation combined with physical exercise (WB-EMS Exercise) could bypass the problem of insufficient motoneuronal activation to improve exercise effect in older adults.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Spinal Motoneuronal Activation in Older Adults
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 65 years or older for healthy older adults or between 18 and 39 years for healthy younger adults
- Ability to walk without using an assistive device
- More than anti-gravity strength in major muscle groups as assessed by manual muscle testing
- Medical clearance to participate in an exercise program
- Ability to attend assessment and intervention visits, maintain current non-study physical activity, and no plans to relocate during the study
You will not qualify if you...
- Regular use of an assistive device such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair
- Presence of pacemaker, metal implants, or other implanted medical devices that affect safety during WB-EMS
- Known pregnancy at screening
- Unstable acute or chronic diseases including renal failure, rheumatologic disease, cardiac arrhythmia, neoplasm, or uncontrolled hypertension
- Terminal disease receiving hospice services
- Use of drugs affecting muscle mass or performance within 6 months, including anabolic steroids and hormone therapies
- Neuromuscular or neurologic conditions affecting motor or sensory function such as motor neuron disease, muscle disease, severe peripheral neuropathy, NMJ disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, TBI, SCI, ataxia, apraxia, hemiplegia
- Musculoskeletal conditions or surgeries in past year that affect exercise results such as knee or hip replacement, rotator cuff repair, or spinal fusion
- Other medical conditions or symptoms that interfere with study participation as determined by the principal investigator
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science Unit
Columbia, Missouri, United States, 65211
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kristina Kelly, DPT, MS
CONTACT
W
W. David Arnold, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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