Trunk Muscle Strength
Conditions
Keywords
Trunk muscle strength, Isometric device, Pegasus, Validity, Reliability, Muscle Activation
Brief summary
The study aims to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of assessing trunk muscle strength using an isometric device (Pegasus, Leipzig, Germany). Thirty healthy volunteers will undergo maximal isometric strength testing with the device, repeated one week later to assess repeatability. Surface electrodes will measure muscle activation, while MRI scans will assess structural condition.
Detailed description
The aim of the study is to assess the validity and repeatability of trunk muscle strength evaluation using an isometric device (Pegasus, Leipzig, Germany) and to investigate it. Thirty healthy volunteer participants will undergo testing of maximal isometric (non-moving) strength using this device. The same strength measurement procedure will be repeated one week later for all participants to determine if the measurements are repeatable, i.e., if the device is capable of providing similar strength data in two closely timed measurements. To assess whether the device actually provides reliable strength data for the trunk muscles, surface electrodes will be additionally placed on the involved muscles to understand the extent of neural activation of these muscles during the test. Additionally, an MRI examination will be conducted for all study participants to assess the structural condition of the trunk muscles.
Interventions
DEVICECTT Pegasus
The intervention aims to assess the construct validity of trunk flexor, extensor, and rotator muscle strength using the CTT PEGASUS isometric dynamometer (Leipzig, Germany). This involves correlating muscle strength measured isometrically with its physiological determinants: MRI-based anatomical cross-sectional area (CSA) in the lumbar region and muscle activation measured via surface electromyography (EMG) of spine and trunk muscles. Additionally, the intervention will assess the test-retest reliability of isometric strength of trunk flexors, extensors, and rotators.
Sponsors
Balgrist Campus AG
Schulthess Klinik
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 59 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* both male and female subjects * age between 18 and 59 years * BMI \< 30 kg/m2 * cognitively intact (self-reported) * autonomous walking
Exclusion criteria
* age under 18 years or over 60 years * any prior spinal surgery or other musculoskeletal surgery having an impact on movement * acute or chronic back pain in the last 6 months(self-reported) * pregnancy (self-reported) * inability to perform the planned set of activities included in the study (e.g. maximal voluntary contraction torque test) * inability to give consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| maximal isometric trunk muscle strength | 1 hour | The computer-assisted test and trainig device (CTT) PEGASUS provides data on back muscle strength in isometric conditions, which constitutes the main endpoint of the present project. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MRI muscle morphology | 0.5-1hour | the anatomical crosssectional area (CSA) of trunk muscles (multifidus, erector spinae, rectus abdominis, and obliquus externus abdominis) evaluated through an abdominal MRI. |
| Electromyography (EMG) activity | 1hour | the root mean square EMG activity recorded during maximal and submaximal voluntary contractions of respective muscles. |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed