How aging and muscle fatigue affect balance and walking
Impacts and Mechanisms of Age and Muscle Fatigue on Postural Control and Force Control
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 |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 140 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Taoyuan and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07405060 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Taoyuan and 1 other locations
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.