Clinical Research Directory

Effects of External Upper Limb Loading on Gait and Trunk Muscle Activity in Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

This study examines how external loading applied to the upper limbs affects gait parameters and the activity of selected trunk- and pelvis-stabilizing muscles (erector spinae, gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, external oblique) in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Participants are medically stable adults (18-80 years) referred to cardiac rehabilitation following a cardiac event or procedure, meeting NYHA class I-II criteria, with no unstable coronary disease, uncontrolled hypertension, neurological disease, or other exclusion criteria. Participants will walk on a treadmill at 1 km/h, 3 km/h and 5 km/h under three conditions: without load, with unilateral upper-limb loading, and with bilateral upper-limb loading. Muscle activity will be recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG), and plantar pressure/gait parameters will be recorded simultaneously using baropodometry integrated into the treadmill. The procedure is non-invasive, does not breach the skin, and does not involve any additional intervention beyond standard rehabilitation. To contextualize functional outcomes, previously collected exercise stress test results (performed independently by the treating physician before and after cardiac rehabilitation, as part of routine clinical care) will be retrieved from participants' medical records for comparison; this is a retrospective data comparison, not an additional study intervention. No financial compensation is provided. Each participant will receive an individual report of their sEMG and gait findings with professional interpretation. Risks are minimal and limited to transient skin irritation from electrodes and mild, temporary muscle fatigue or soreness typical of moderate exercise. Participants may withdraw at any time.

WBV Reflex Latency and Mechanical Load

This study aims to investigate how the magnitude of mechanical loading affects reflex latency patterns induced by whole-body vibration (WBV). WBV can trigger two types of reflexes: the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) and the bone myoregulation reflex (BMR), which may be influenced by load-bearing condition. The study will include healthy adult volunteers aged 20-50 years. Reflex responses will be recorded from the soleus muscle using surface EMG during both WBV. Different conditions of mechanical loading (i.e., standing on one foot, both feet) and vibration frequencies (30-36 Hz) will be tested. The main outcome will be the latency of the reflex responses, which will help distinguish between TVR and BMR activation. The goal is to better understand how mechanical load modifies reflex response timing and to characterize the underlying afferent pathways. This knowledge may contribute to optimizing vibration-based rehabilitation strategies.

A Study on Ubiquinol on Fatigue and Muscle Strength in Healthy Adults Taking GLP-1 Agonists

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a daily ubiquinol supplement can reduce fatigue and help maintain muscle strength in adults aged 30-65 who are taking a GLP-1 weight loss medication (Wegovy® or Mounjaro®). Ubiquinol is a form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a substance the body makes naturally that plays a key role in energy production. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ubiquinol lower fatigue levels compared to a placebo (a look-alike capsule that contains no ubiquinol)? Does ubiquinol help maintain muscle strength during weight loss treatment? Researchers will compare ubiquinol to a placebo to see if ubiquinol helps with fatigue and muscle strength in people using GLP-1 medications. Participants will: Take one ubiquinol (100 mg) or placebo capsule every day for 9 months Have a nurse visit their home 4 times (at months 0, 3, 6, and 9) to take a small blood sample, measure their body, and supervise a simple sit-to-stand exercise test. Attend a short monthly video call (about 20-30 minutes) with a study dietitian. Complete questionnaires and 4 days of diet logging every 3 months using a smartphone app. Log all exercise sessions in the smartphone app throughout the study. This is a fully remote study - participants do not need to visit a clinic. About 90 people will take part.

The Muscle in Children With Cerebral Palsy - Longitudinal Exploration of Microscopic Muscle Structure.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor impairment due to a brain malformation or a brain lesion before the age of two. Spasticity, hypertonus in flexor muscles, dyscoordination and an impaired sensorimotor control are cardinal symptoms. The brain lesion is non-progressive, but the flexor muscles of the limbs will during adolescence become relatively shorter and shorter (contracted), forcing the joints into a progressively flexed position. This will worsen the positions of already paretic and malfunctioning arms and legs. Due to bending forces across the joints, bony malformations will occur, worsening the function even further. Since about 25 years a combination treatment with intramuscular botulinum toxin injections, braces and training has had a tremendous and increasing popularity, although lasting long-term clinical advantage is not yet proven. Muscle morphology of the biceps brachii and the gastrocnemius muscles: * The hypothesis is that care as usual, i.e. training and splinting sessions with botulinum toxin as adjuvant treatment, will reduce (normalize) the expression of the fast fatigable myosin heavy chain MyHC IIx and increase the expression of developmental myosin, as a possible sign of growth. As the biceps in the arm is used irregularly and voluntarily, and the gastrocnemius is activated during automated gait, the adaptations of those muscles will be different. Methods: Baseline muscle biopsies: Percutaneous biopsies are taken just before the first intramuscular botulinum toxin injection is given. The doses and the intervals for the botulinum toxin treatment will follow clinical routines. Biopsies 4-6 months, 12 months and 24 months after the first botulinum toxin injection: The exact same procedure as above will be performed, but the biopsies will be taken 2 cm distant, medial or lateral, from previous biopsy sites * Significance:. More knowledge is warranted regarding the actual molecular process in the muscle leading to a contracture, and its relation to the constant communication with the injured central nervous system. This study will give answers that could result in new, early prophylactic treatment of joint movement restrictions and motor impairment in children with CP.