Mitigating Neural Hypoexcitability and Weakness During Disuse in Women
Kansas State University
20 participants
May 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Clinical trial The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how muscle weakness and atrophy develop during short periods of arm immobilization and whether a type of exercise called cross-education can help reduce these effects in women at midlife. The main questions it aims to answer are: What changes happen in the nervous system that lead to weakness when a wrist is immobilized? Can training the opposite arm help maintain muscle strength, muscle size, and nervous system function in the immobilized arm? Researchers will compare women who have their wrist immobilized with or without opposite-arm resistance training. Participants will: Wear a wrist cast on one arm for 7 days Complete strength training with the opposite arm or no training, depending on their group Attend study visits for strength and nervous system testing Have non-invasive tests (like magnetic brain stimulation, muscle recordings, and muscle imaging) to measure how the nervous system and muscle responds
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- Women between 40-65 years of age
- Baseline handgrip strength >16Kg
Exclusion Criteria22
- Personal or family history of blood clots
- Current use of anticoagulant medications
- Neuromuscular or metabolic diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, diabetes)
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis or osteopenia
- History of myocardial infarction within the past year
- Chronic pain ≥3/10 for ≥3 months
- Uncontrolled hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg)
- Upper extremity surgery within the past year
- Use of assistive hand or arm device within the past year
- Fall involving the upper extremities within the past year
- Upper extremity injuries preventing safe participation
- Current use of muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, or similar drugs
- Smoking within the past 6 months
- History of drug or alcohol abuse within the past year
- Severe anxiety or claustrophobia
- Pregnancy (current or planned)
- Allergies to medical adhesives
- High risk of sarcopenia (per SARC-F)
- Contraindications to TMS or MRI
- Upper-body resistance training within the past 6 months
- Inability/unwillingness to refrain from resistance training during study
Interested in this trial?
Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.
Interventions
The wrist immobilization will use a medical device (wrist cast) to immobilize the left, non-dominant wrist for 7 days.
The cross-education intervention will consist of resistance training on the dominant hand.
The resistance training rehabilitation will occur for the non-dominant hand following the immobilization phase for all participants.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07166198