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Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Spinal Motoneuronal Activation in Older Adults
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age (65 years or older) for healthy older adults and between 18-39 for healthy younger adults * Ambulatory without 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 conform to the requirements of the study (i.e. attendance at assessment and intervention visits, maintain current level of non-study physical activity for the duration of the study, no intention to relocate mid-study) Exclusion Criteria: * Regular use of an assistive device for mobility (i.e. cane, walker, wheelchair) * Presence of a pacemaker, metal implants, or other implanted medical devices that could impact participant safety during WB-EMS intervention * Known pregnancy at the time of screening * Presence of unstable acute or chronic disease (i.e. renal failure, rheumatologic disease cardia arrhythmia, neoplasm, uncontrolled hypertension) * Presence of terminal disease (i.e. receiving hospice services) * Current of previous use of any drugs known to influence muscle mass or performance within 6 months; these may include but are not limited to anabolic steroids, IGF01, growth hormone, replacement and androgen therapy, anti-androgen therapy. * Known neuromuscular or neurologic condition affecting somatosensory or motor function/control (i.e. motor neuron disease, muscle disease, severe peripheral neuropathy, NMJ disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, h/o stroke, TBI, SCI, ataxia, apraxia, hemiplegia, etc.) * Musculoskeletal condition or surgery in the past year that would confound results of exercise interventions (i.e. TKA, THA, RTC repair, spinal fusion) * Other medical conditions, signs, or symptoms that would interfere with study conduct or interpretation of results as determined by a PI
About the study
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.
What is being tested
- Exercise (device)
Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia · Participants: 12 · Started: Aug 18, 2025
Contact the study team
- Kristina Kelly, DPT, MS · Phone: 5738842596
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06689618
Locations in the U.S.
| Missouri | NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science Unit, Columbia |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.