Improving Hand Dexterity in Older Adults
This study is looking at ways to improve hand dexterity in older adults, specifically those aged 54 to 89. It explores how practice and a treatment called Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) can change the way your brain controls hand muscles. TENS uses a mild electrical current on the skin. You would practice a task to improve hand dexterity, either with TENS or a sham (inactive) TENS. Researchers will measure your hand steadiness and how your motor units (nerve and muscle fibers working together) respond. The goal is to find non-invasive ways to help older adults maintain independence and quality of life. The study plans to enroll 72 participants.
- Study design
- This interventional study plans to enroll 72 participants. You would either receive Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) or a sham (inactive) TENS while practicing a hand dexterity task.
- What's involved
- You would perform 25 trials of the Grooved Pegboard Test. Your force steadiness and motor unit modes would be measured from enrollment until the end of the study at 2 weeks.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Measurements will be taken from enrollment until the end of the study at 2 weeks.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Neural Substrates Underlying Adaptations in Manual Dexterity of Older Adults
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Roger M Enoka, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Colorado, Boulder
Who to contact
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What this trial measures
- Grooved Pegboard TestFrom enrollment until the end of the study at 2 weeks.
Time taken to insert 25 keyhole-shaped pegs into matching holes on the pegboard.
- Force steadinessFrom enrollment until the end of the study at 2 weeks.
Coefficient of variation for force during low-intensity isometric contractions.
- Motor unit modesFrom enrollment until study completion at 2 weeks.
The subsets of motor units in hand-forearm muscles that exhibit correlated modulation of discharge rate during low-intensity isometric contractions. The motor unit activity will be identified from high-density surface electromyography with grid electrodes.