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Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Quadriceps Muscle Function After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

NCT04504344 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2023-08-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Quadriceps muscle dysfunction persists for years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and is related to poor self-reported outcomes, altered movement patterns and joint loading associated with post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (OA), and higher risk of reinjury. Emerging evidence indicates that central drive (pathway from the brain to the muscle of interest, i.e corticospinal excitability) to the quadriceps muscle is reduced as early as 2 weeks after surgery and can persist for years after ACLR, meaning that current rehabilitation strategies may not be addressing potential maladaptive changes in central drive. Anodal tDCS is a neurostimulation technology that increases brain excitability (i.e. central drive) and has the potential to address alterations in central drive and quadriceps muscle performance. The purpose of this study is twofold: 1) to determine the effects of anodal tDCS on central drive and quadriceps muscle performance in patients after ACLR, and 2) determine the relationship between central drive and quadriceps muscle performance in patients after ACLR. Central drive will be defined by two measures: 1) active motor thresholds, and 2) slope of a stimulus response curve. Quadriceps muscle performance will be defined by two measures: 1) isometric quadriceps strength, and 2) rate of torque development (RTD). For purpose 1 the investigators hypothesize that measures of central drive and quadriceps muscle performance will increase with administration of active anodal tDCS compared to no change with sham tDCS. For purpose 2 the investigators hypothesize that both measures of central drive will be associated with both measures of quadriceps performance, with a stronger association between central drive and RTD. Following a cross-over design patients 3-6 months from ACLR will receive active and sham anodal tDCS at different sessions separated by 7-10 days while they ride a stationary bike for 20 minutes. Bike position and intensity will be standardized for all patients to maximize quadriceps activity. Findings from this study will expand our basic science knowledge on how tDCS effects different aspects of corticospinal excitability and quadriceps strength, and lead to subsequent studies to determine the effects of multiple sessions of tDCS on corticospinal excitability and quadriceps muscle performance in patients recovering from ACLR.

Conditions

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
  • Quadriceps Muscle Weakness
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Interventions

DEVICE

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) - Soterix Medical Inc, 1x1 tDCS (conventional)

We will compare the effects of active versus sham tDCS on quadriceps strength and corticospinal excitability in patients recovering from ACLR.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Arcadia University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-09-15
Primary Completion
2023-07-31
Completion
2023-07-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04504344 on ClinicalTrials.gov