Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation in Healthy Subjects to Activate Central Pattern Generator

Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation in Healthy Subjects to Activate Central Pattern Generator: Double-blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial.

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT04241406

Enrollment

Registered

2020-01-27

Start date

2019-01-30

Completion date

2020-03-31

Last updated

2020-05-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Keywords

transcutaneous spinal cor stimulation, neuromodulation, motor activity

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determinate whether the application of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation produce changes in the excitability of alpha moto neurone in healthy volunteers. Moreover evidence whether the effect of the electric currents can increase muscle strength.

Detailed description

In the last years several experimental studies have evidenced that the transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) can evoque spinal reflex activity. The activation of propioceptive afferent would then activated motoneurons innervated at the same metameric and adjacent levels. The possibility of activating neural networks with non-invasive stimulation method opens a therapeutic window for the treatment of different neurological disorders. So the purpose of this study is quantify the modulation of the excitability of alpha motor neurone when the application of the current is in the central nervous system compared with a sham group.

Interventions

DEVICETranscutaneous spinal cord stimulation

Electrodes are placed over the back for a 10 minutes in the same manner as experimental groups, but will be applied a sham electrical stimulation increasing current intensity during 30 second and decrease intensity subsequentl

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Participants will be volunteer healthy students of Physiotherapy, University of Castilla - La Mancha, older than 18 years.

Exclusion criteria

* Neuromuscular disease. * Epilepsy. * Trauma, surgery or pain affecting the upper limb, shoulder girdle or lumbar área. * Osteosynthesis material in the upper limb. * Diabetes. * Cancer. * Cardiovascular disease. * Pacemaker or other implanted electrical device. * Take any drug (NSAIDs, corticosteroids, antidepressants, analgesics, antiepileptics, ...) during the study and in the previous 7 days. * Presence of tattoos or other external agent introduced into the treatment or assessment area. * Pregnancy. * Sensitivity disturbance in lower limb.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Baseline Motor evoked potential (MEP)	baseline at 0 min.	The action potential elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex through the scalp. EMG response will be recorded by surface electrodes (Signa lConditioning Electrodes v2.3, Delsys Inc., USA) fixed in quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles. by the SENIAM protocol (www.seniam.org).
During treatment Motor evoked potential (MEP)	During treatment at 5 min.	The action potential elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex through the scalp. EMG response will be recorded by surface electrodes (Signa lConditioning Electrodes v2.3, Delsys Inc., USA) fixed in quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles. by the SENIAM protocol (www.seniam.org).
Post-treatment 1 Motor evoked potential (MEP)	At 2 min after treatment.	The action potential elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex through the scalp. EMG response will be recorded by surface electrodes (Signa lConditioning Electrodes v2.3, Delsys Inc., USA) fixed in quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles. by the SENIAM protocol (www.seniam.org).
Post-treatment 2 Motor evoked potential (MEP)	At 4 min after treatment.	The action potential elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex through the scalp. EMG response will be recorded by surface electrodes (Signa lConditioning Electrodes v2.3, Delsys Inc., USA) fixed in quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles. by the SENIAM protocol (www.seniam.org).

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Baseline Strength	Baseline at 0 min.	Hand dynamometer will be used to measure muscle strength. 3 trial of 3 second of isometric muscle contraction of quadriceps and tibialis anterior will be carried.
Post-treatment Strength	At 8 min after treatment.	Hand dynamometer will be used to measure muscle strength. 3 trial of 3 second of isometric muscle contraction of quadriceps and tibialis anterior will be carried.

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026