Investigating trunk muscle activation in pain-free individuals

Test-retest Reliability and Agreement of Trunk Muscle Activation in Pain-free Persons

Observational University Ghent · NCT06975202

This study is testing how trunk muscles work during everyday activities in healthy people to see if understanding these patterns can help prevent muscle problems.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment18 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Ghent Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ghent)
Trial IDNCT06975202 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to assess the test-retest reliability and agreement of trunk muscle activation during functional tasks in pain-free individuals. By analyzing muscle activation patterns, the research seeks to understand how these patterns can influence daily functioning and the potential for musculoskeletal disorders. The methodology involves comprehensive reliability analysis of muscle activation data, focusing on temporal characteristics rather than just peak amplitudes. This innovative approach may provide deeper insights into muscle function and its implications for health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are pain-free individuals aged 18 to 65 years.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of low back pain, serious underlying conditions, or upper-limb complaints may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of trunk muscle function, potentially leading to better prevention strategies for musculoskeletal disorders.

How similar studies have performed: While limited studies have explored similar reliability analyses, this approach using integrated pointwise indices is novel and has not been extensively tested in the context of muscle activation.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

\- Pain-free persons between 18 and 65 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* Persons experiencing low back pain in the past year
* Patients with serious underlying conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
* Previous spinal surgery
* Persons with any type of blood clotting disorder
* Persons with upper-limb complaints that prevent them from exerting (maximum) force with their arms or hands.

Where this trial is running

Ghent

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions ControlsHealthy Controlreliabilityagreementmuscle activationfunctional tasks
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.