Surface Electromyography Study of Fatigue in Diabetic Neuropathy

Sponsor
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT04467255
Collaborator
(none)
30
1
2
55
0.5

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Fatigue in diabetic neuropathy compromises patients' physical activity and poses questions on how to plan correct rehabilitation training. Conclusive interpretation of muscular mechanisms of fatigue in diabetic neuropathy has not yet been achieved. Among the various instrumental evaluations for fatigue, multichannel surface electromyography (sEMG) is a recognized tool that permits the study of myoelectric manifestations of fatigue. Aim of the study is to assess if differences in myoelectric manifestations of fatigue between patients affected by diabetic neuropathy exist after an aerobic or endurance training.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Other: Rehabilitative training
N/A

Detailed Description

The instrumental session consisted of the registration of sEMG signals during electrically stimulated and voluntary contractions according to a consolidated standardized protocol. The investigated muscle is the Anterior Tibial.

Each subjects sat comfortably on a chair with his/her ankle flexed at 90° degree and knee extended; the leg was fixed at 90 degrees, in the isometric brace fixed on a plane (MISO1, LISiN Bioengineering Centre, Turin Polytechnic, Italy Torque was measured with a modular brace incorporating two independent torque transducers (model TR11, CCT Transducers, Torino, Italy).

The signal from the two torque meters were amplified, summed and displayed by means of a visual feedback system, which provided the subject with information regarding the torque level produced. Torque signal were stored to be analysed later.

The sEMG signal of the right Anterior Tibial was investigated with a flexible adhesive linear array of 16 electrodes (silver bars 10 mm long, 1 mm diameter, 10 mm apart) in single differential (SD) configuration. The optimal position and orientation of the array was determined at moderate contraction levels by visual inspection of the signal. It provided clear motor unit action potentials with similar propagation in the two directions from the neuromuscular junction to the tendons.

The reference electrode was positioned on the patient's leg. The skin was cleaned by slightly abrading it with abrasive gel before positioning the array.

Since sEMG variables are affected by muscle temperature, the skin temperature was monitored with an electronic thermometer throughout the whole examination and was kept between 31.5 C° and 32.5 C° 30.

The protocol consisted in three evaluations: one stimulated contraction and two voluntary contractions, according to a standardized protocol.

The stimulated contraction was executed through a button stimulation electrode (size: 10 mm) positioned on the motor point using a monopolar configuration, a frequency of 25 Hz for a duration of 30 seconds and a supramaximal stimulation. The motor point was selected as the position of the stimulated electrode on the skin where the M-wave showed the maximum amplitude for a specified stimulation intensity; the supramaximal stimulation level was defined as the current intensity above which there was no significant increase of the amplitude of the M-wave or the maximum level tolerated by the subjects.

A rest period of 10 minutes after stimulation was observed in order to avoid cumulative fatigue phenomenon.

The subject then performed two test-contractions by dorsiflexion of the foot against the resistance given by the braces, in order to get acquainted with the procedure and to verify the correct posture and position of the array.

The subject was subsequently asked to produce three maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) lasting 3 seconds each with a rest period of 2 minutes in-between. The reference MVC, expressed in Nm, was established as the maximum of the three measurements. The last MVC measurement was followed by a 10-minute rest period.

The subject then produced two voluntary contractions each lasting 30 seconds: one contraction at 30% MVC and one at 60% MVC with a 5-minute rest in between. A visual biofeedback was used to help the subject maintaining the requested contraction level; furthermore, the subjects were verbally encouraged to obtain the best outcome during their performance.

The EMG signals were filtered with a 10-500 Hz bandwidth filter, amplified (EMG 16-16 channel amplifiers LISiN Bioengineering Centre Turin Polytechnic). They were sampled at 2048 Hz during voluntary contractions and 1024 Hz during electrically elicited contractions. Signals were digitised by a 16 bit A/D converter (DAQCARD-6024E National Instruments, Austin, Texas, USA) and stored on the disk of a personal computer.

Signal processing was performed using MATLAB. EMG variables of interest were: mean normalized frequency (MNF), average rectified value (ARV) and muscle fibre conduction velocity (CV). Spectral (i.e. MNF), amplitude (i.e. ARV) and CV variables were computed with numerical algorithms described in previous papers.

CV was estimated from the consecutive double differential signals showing the best signal propagation; MNF and ARV were estimated from the single differential channel in the middle of the channels used for CV estimation. Epoch length for EMG variable estimation was 0.5 seconds without overlapping.

A linear regression was used to fit all the scatter graphs of the EMG variables with time. The rate of change was defined as the slope of the regression line. The normalized rate of change for all variables was defined as the ratio between the slope and the intercept (initial value of sEMG variables) expressed as percentage. Physiological myoelectric manifestations of muscle fatigue consist in reduction of MNF and CV and increase of ARV.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
30 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
Participants are assigned to two groups in parallel for the duration of the studyParticipants are assigned to two groups in parallel for the duration of the study
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Basic Science
Official Title:
Muscular Fatigue Evaluation in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy by Means of Multichannel Surface Electromyography After a Rehabilitative Training: Aerobic Versus Endurance Training.
Actual Study Start Date :
May 3, 2018
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Jun 1, 2022
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Dec 1, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: group a

aerobic training

Other: Rehabilitative training
4 weeks aerobic treadmill training compared to endurance training with elastic thera band

Active Comparator: group b

endurance training

Other: Rehabilitative training
4 weeks aerobic treadmill training compared to endurance training with elastic thera band

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Six-minute walk test [4 weeks]

    The score of the test is the distance a patient walks in 6 minutes measured in meters.

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Modified Borg Scale [4 weeks]

    Is is commonly used to assess fatigue during a training expressed with Dyspnea. This is a0 to 10 rated scale. High score corresponds to worse outcome.

  2. Functional Independence Measure [4 weeks]

    The functional Independence measure is an 18-item measurement tool that explores an individual's physical, psychological and social function. The tool is used to assess a patient's level of disability. Range total score 18-126. High score corresponds to better outcome.

  3. Surface multichannel electromyographic variables. [4 weeks]

    In research setting muscle electric properties were analyzed during contractions employing multichannel surface electromyograpy. Among the variables describing muscle activity, we examine conduction velocity. The conduction velocity of the muscle was estimated from the difference in arrival time of the motor unit potential at electrodes separeted by 15 mm. The motor unit conduction velocity for anterior tibial, analyzed in this study, ranged from 2.6 to 5.3 m/s (mean 3.7 m/s) (Arendt-Nielsen SA and L. J Physiol (1987), 391, pp 561-571).

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
65 Years to 85 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Michigan Neuropathy Screening instrument higher or equal to 7

  • Stable clinical conditions

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Other neurological conditions or diseases

  • Skin lesions

  • Recent lower limb fractures or lower limb surgical intervention

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Ics Maugeri Montescano Pavia Italy 27040

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

Investigators

None specified.

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

Responsible Party:
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT04467255
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 2185
First Posted:
Jul 10, 2020
Last Update Posted:
Oct 12, 2021
Last Verified:
Oct 1, 2021
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Oct 12, 2021