Age-independent Decline in Manual Dexterity of Middle-aged and Older Adults
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate the mediating influence of force control on the pegboard times of adults (50-89 years) who are stratified into groups of faster and slower pegboard times. The hypothesis is that practice of either a pegboard test or a force-control task will reduce pegboard times, but the decrease will be greater and less similar after the two practice interventions for the slower group of participants. The outcomes are expected to demonstrate that force control is a modifiable mediator of pegboard times for this cohort, but the effect will be stronger for the group with faster pegboard times.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
The study will involve a randomized, cross-over design with a one-week washout between arms. The two arms (3 weeks each) will comprise practice of the grooved pegboard test and practice of steady contractions while lifting and lowering light loads with a hand muscle. Randomization into practice order will be accomplished with a block approach (block size = 4) for each of the two groups. The outcome assessors will be blinded to practice order. The outcomes will comprise three tests of manual dexterity and the measurement of force control during submaximal contractions. The outcomes will be obtained before and after the six sessions in each practice arm.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Faster This group will comprise participants who complete the grooved pegboard test at baseline with a time of less than 71 seconds. One half of the members in this group will perform the two interventions in the order of pegboard practice and then force control practice, whereas the other half of the group will perform the two practice interventions in the opposite order. |
Other: Pegboard practice
Practice of the grooved pegboard test
Other: Force control practice
Practice performing steady muscle contractions
|
| Experimental: Slower This group will comprise participants who complete the grooved pegboard test at baseline with a time of greater than 70 seconds. One half of the members in this group will perform the two interventions in the order of pegboard practice and then force control practice, whereas the other half of the group will perform the two practice interventions in the opposite order. |
Other: Pegboard practice
Practice of the grooved pegboard test
Other: Force control practice
Practice performing steady muscle contractions
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Grooved pegboard test [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
Time to complete the test as quickly as possible
- 9-hole pegboard test [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
Time to complete the test as quickly as possible
- Jebsen Hand Function test [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
Time to complete the test as quickly as possible
- Force control [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
The coefficient of variation for force when subjects exert a constant submaximal force
Secondary Outcome Measures
- EMG amplitude [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
Absolute amplitude of the electromyographic (EMG) signal for the involved muscles during the steady contractions
- MVC force [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
The peak force exerted during a maximal isometric contractions
- 1-RM load [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
The maximal weight that can be lifted once
- Index finger acceleration [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
The average standard deviation of index finger acceleration in the abduction-adduction plane when a light load is being lifted and lowered during the practice intervention
- Motor unit discharge rates [Changes from baseline (week 1) at weeks 4 and 7]
The discharge times of action potentials by motor units during the steady submaximal contractions
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Able to read, write, and speak English
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Able to arrange transportation to the Boulder campus
Exclusion Criteria:
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Cognitive impairment
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Major psychiatric condition
-
Unstable depressive disorder
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Progressive neurological, muscular, cardiovascular, or skeletal disorder
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Chronic pain condition
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Currently taking medication known to influence neuromuscular function
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Recent hospitalization
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Unable to attend 12 practice sessions in 6 weeks
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | United States | 80309 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Colorado, Boulder
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Roger Enoka, PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 18-0269