Plain English Summary
Background and study aims:
During complex resistance movements such as bench press, large amounts of muscle mass are activated, and multiple muscles are coordinated to achieve the desired movement. The aim of the current study is to evaluate if changes occur in the muscular coordination, following an increase in strength.
Who can participate?
Healthy men at the age of 18-40 with no previous surgery in the shoulder or elbow joint can participate.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: a training group and a control group (no training). Subjects in the training group perform upper-body strength training for 5 weeks, 3 times a week. Each training session will last approximately 60 minutes and take place at the Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg (Denmark). Both groups will be tested in two sessions: before the start of training and after completion of the training (approx. 3 hours per session). The maximum strength in bench press will be measured and surface electromyograhy (EMG) will be recorded during 3 sets of 8 repetitions at submaximal intensity.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
After completion of the training program, subjects are expected to have gained upper-body strength.
No risks or side effects are known to be associated with the methods used in the present study.
Where is the study run from?
Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg (Denmark).
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The project will run from September 2014 to March 2014.
How long will the trial be recruiting participants for?
Aalborg University (Denmark)
Who is the main contact?
PhD student Mathias Kristiansen
mvk@hst.aau.dk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
MSc Mathias Kristiansen
ORCID ID
Contact details
Fredrik Bajersvej 7E
Aalborg
9220
Denmark
+4526803461
mvk@hst.aau.dk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Changes in muscle coordination after 5 weeks of bench press training in previously untrained participants: A randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Following 5 weeks of intensive upper-body strength straining the training group will display:
1. Increased strength in bench press
2. Changes in muscle coordination as measured by the extracted muscle synergies
Ethics approval
The North Denmark Region Committee on Health Research Ethics, Denmark, July 2012, ref: N-20120036
Study design
Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Condition
Inter-muscular coordination
Intervention
Subjects randomized to the training group will perform upper-body strength training 3 times per week for 5 weeks.
Subjects randomized to the control group will not perform any training.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Upper-body strength, measured as 1RM in bench press. Will be assessed pre and post the 5 week intervention.
Muscle coordination, measured by extracting muscle synergies from surface electromyography (EMG). Will be assessed pre and post the 5 week intervention.
Secondary outcome measures
Compliance. Will be measured at each training session.
Overall trial start date
30/07/2014
Overall trial end date
20/12/2014
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Males
2. Age 18-40
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Male
Target number of participants
32
Participant exclusion criteria
1. No previous surgery in shoulder or elbow joint
2. Regular strength training within 24 months before the study
3. Consumption of alcohol or pain-relieving drugs 24h prior to the experiment
4. Hypertension (>160/>100 mmHg) and heart diseases
5. Addictive or previous addictive behavior defined as the abuse of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
7. Previous neurological or mental disorders
8. Inability to cooperate
Recruitment start date
30/09/2014
Recruitment end date
30/10/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Denmark
Trial participating centre
Aalborg University
Denmark
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
Aalborg University
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We are intending to publish a conference abstract at the European Conference on Sports Science June, 2015 in Malmø, Sweden.
And an original research paper to the Scandinavian journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.
Intention to publish date
31/12/2015
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list