None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study investigates whether neck muscle vibration alters spinal motor neuron excitability in healthy young adults. Participants will complete baseline recordings of forearm muscle activity using high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG). Participants will then receive either 10 minutes of neck muscle vibration applied to the right sternocleidomastoid and left cervical extensor muscles or a sham control condition in which vibrators are attached but not activated. Persistent inward currents of forearm motor neurons will be estimated using the paired motor unit technique before and after the intervention. The findings will provide insight into how altered proprioceptive input from the neck influences spinal motor neuron excitability.
Interventions
The intervention will consist of high-frequency, low-amplitude mechanical vibration applied to the right sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and left cervical extensor muscles. Vibration will be delivered using surface vibratory devices affixed to the skin overlying the target muscles. The devices will deliver vibration at a frequency of 100 Hz with an amplitude of less than 1 mm for a single continuous period of 10 minutes.
The intervention will be delivered once on a single study visit day, and is not p
The intervention will consist of high-frequency, low-amplitude mechanical vibration applied to the right sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and left cervical extensor muscles. Vibration will be delivered using surface vibratory devices affixed to the skin overlying the target muscles. The devices will deliver vibration at a frequency of 100 Hz with an amplitude of less than 1 mm for a single continuous period of 10 minutes. The intervention will be delivered once on a single study visit day, and is not personalized, titrated or adapted across participants. All participants receive identical stimulation parameters within their assigned group. The intervention will be delivered face-to-face on an individual basis in a controlled laboratory environment at a university research facility. The vibration will be applied by trained research personnel with experience in neuromuscular and neurophysiological experimental protocols. Intervention fidelity will be ensured by using identical vibration devices and standardized placement procedures across participants. Adherence is ensured by direct supervision of the intervention by research staff and completion of the full 10-minute vibration or sham period is confirmed for all participants.
Sponsors
Prof Bernadette Murphy - Ontario Tech University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
17 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Participants must be males and females aged 17 – 30, who are attending Ontario Tech University. All participants are required to be healthy and are to be free from chronic or recurrent neck, shoulder, or back pain. All participants will be screened for these inclusion and exclusion criteria using the chronic pain grade scale questionnaire and must have a score of less than 1 to be eligible. Right-handed individuals will be tested due to known differences in cortical excitability and sensorimotor processing between dominant and non-dominant limbs. Participants who score > +40 on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Deemed right-handed) will be included in this study. Participants that are deemed ambidextrous, but have a strong inclination for right-hand dominance will also be included in the study.
Exclusion criteria
Left-handed participants will be excluded from the study (i.e. < -40 on Edinburgh Handedness Inventory). Participants cannot have any neuromuscular conditions that are known to impact motor unit excitability (e.g. recurrent or chronic neck pain, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s etc.). All participants will be screened for these inclusion and exclusion criteria using a safety screening checklist.
Outcome results
None listed