Effects of Muscle Cooling on Motor Unit Firing of the Quadriceps
Effects of Muscle Cooling on Motor Unit Firing of the Quadriceps: A Pilot Feasibility Study
Wake Forest University
24 participants
Jan 20, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The overall objective of this pilot study is to establish the feasibility and methodological validity of using high-density surface electromyography to characterize motor unit behavior of the quadriceps under thermoneutral and locally cooled conditions, and to generate preliminary data to inform the design of a larger, hypothesis-driven study.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- Men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 years
- Healthy adults, defined as absence of significant acute/chronic medical condition, injury, and/or illness that may compromise subject safety, limit the ability of the participant to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study as determined by the Principal Investigator.
Exclusion Criteria15
- Current diagnosis or history of:
- major metabolic disease (e.g., type I and type II diabetes),
- neuromuscular disease (e.g., cervical spondylotic radiculomyelopathy, lumbar spondylosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies),
- cardiovascular disease (e.g., stage II hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction/ischemia, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, or other conditions associated with impaired peripheral circulation),
- significant myocardial or pericardial diseases (e.g. amyloidosis, constriction),
- moderate or severe valvular disease,
- pulmonary/respiratory disease (e.g., asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),
- cancer,
- renal disease,
- liver disease,
- or anemia.
- Current or recent musculoskeletal injury (e.g. fracture, sprain, dislocation) or any physical disability that precludes safe and adequate testing.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Thigh circumference greater than 23 inches
- Mid-thigh skinfold thickness greater 40 mm
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Interventions
For the cold condition, an Aircast Thigh Pad (Aircast), connected to the Cryo Cuff IC cooler (DJO Global, Vista, California, USA) will be applied to the dominant thigh. The system circulates ice water maintained at approximately 10-15°C with intermittent compression. Cooling duration will be individualized based on mid-thigh skinfold thickness, consistent with published recommendations that account for the effect of subcutaneous tissue on intramuscular cooling9. Participants with a mid-thigh skinfold thickness of 0-10 mm will receive 10 minutes of cooling; those with a skinfold thickness of 11-20 mm will receive 25 minutes of cooling; those with a skinfold thickness of 21-30 mm will receive 40 minutes of cooling; and those with a skinfold thickness of 31-40 mm will receive 60 minutes of cooling. Participants will remain seated for the duration of the cooling treatment.
Locations(1)
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NCT07381920