How aging and muscle fatigue affect balance and walking
Official title: Impacts and Mechanisms of Age and Muscle Fatigue on Postural Control and Force Control
Run by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · NCT07405060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether muscle fatigue in the arms or legs changes balance and walking in healthy older adults (60–85) compared with young adults (20–40).
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 20 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 140 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Taoyuan and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 1, 2022 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | February 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07405060 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy adults willing to attend two in-person sessions: young adults aged 20–40 and older adults aged 60–85 who walk independently, have normal cognition, and have no conditions affecting motor performance.
✕Probably not a fit
People with neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, sensory deficits, current pain, restricted joint range, or other conditions excluded from the protocol are unlikely to benefit directly from this observational work.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This repeated-measures observational project recruits healthy young (20–40) and older (60–85) adults to measure motor performance before and after fatiguing exercises of the upper and lower limbs. Participants complete two laboratory sessions at least one week apart with pre-test assessments, a protocol of repeated maximal contractions with rest, and post-test measures. Outcomes include maximal voluntary isometric contraction, postural control metrics, and gait performance while heart rate and perceived exertion are monitored for safety. Individuals with neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, sensory, or cognitive impairments are excluded to isolate age- and fatigue-related effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could clarify how limb-specific fatigue harms balance and walking and help tailor fall-prevention and rehabilitation strategies for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked neuromuscular fatigue to postural instability but results in older adults and for gait outcomes are limited and inconsistent, so this limb-specific, age-comparative approach is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 20 to 40 years (young), and 60-85 years (old) * walk independently * able to follow commands (Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores greater than 21 * able and willing to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * pregnancy * neurologic, psychiatric, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, immune, integumentary disease or disorder which might influence this study * any current loss of sensation in the arms, wrists, hands, fingers, hips, knees, ankles or toes * any pain at the time of testing * any restriction in range of motion of lower extremity.
Where it's running
-
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Taoyuan, Taiwan Recruiting -
Chang Gung University
Taoyuan, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Chu-Ling Yen — Chang Gung University
- Study coordinator: Chu-Ling Yen
- Email: clyen@mail.cgu.edu.tw
- Phone: 886-3-2118800
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Aquatic power training dosing strategies and creatine in older adults
This trial tests whether different aquatic power training dosing methods and creatine supplementation help improve function in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older.
-
Intergenerational Interaction Program for Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Students
A 6-week program pairs nursing home residents with nursing students to see if weekly joint activities can increase joy and reduce loneliness for older adults and lessen ageism in students.
-
Microcurrent therapy after exercise in military personnel
This trial tests whether active microcurrent therapy after exercise changes blood levels of creatine kinase in military personnel compared with a sham treatment.
-
Recumbent cycling with FES for leg rehabilitation after knee surgery
This study tests two control methods for a device that combines recumbent cycling with electrical stimulation of the thigh muscle to help lower-limb rehab in healthy adults first and see how fatigue-aware control compares to standard control.
-
Supplemental Mobility for older adults in skilled nursing facilities
This pilot tests whether adding a mobility aide to support walking and transfers alongside regular rehab helps older adults in SNFs after hospitalization see more daily activity and safer mobility.
-
Smart Voice Platform to Support Quality of Life for Community-Living Older Adults
A smart voice platform is tested to see if it improves quality of life and healthy aging for older adults living in the community.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.