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Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation for Neuromuscular Diseases

This study is looking at how Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) exercise, using a device called Katalyst, affects adults with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) like ALS, Myasthenia Gravis, and others. NMDs can make traditional exercise difficult, but WB-EMS directly stimulates muscles. Researchers want to see if this exercise can improve muscle function and physical abilities. They will measure changes in how your nerves and muscles work, your physical performance (like walking and balance), and how you feel (fatigue, pain, quality of life). Up to 50 adults will participate in supervised 20-minute WB-EMS sessions, 1-2 times a week for 4-8 weeks. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is a single-arm pilot study, meaning all participants will receive the WB-EMS intervention. Up to 50 adults with neuromuscular diseases will be enrolled.
What's involved
You would participate in supervised 20-minute WB-EMS exercise sessions using the Katalyst system, 1-2 times per week for 4-8 weeks. Measurements will be taken before the intervention and after 4 weeks of intervention.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements will be taken 4-7 days after 4 weeks of intervention (at Week 6 and Week 11), suggesting a follow-up period after the initial 4-week intervention.

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NCT07478172

Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Adults With Neuromuscular Disease

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Missouri-Columbia
~50 participants
Updated 2026-03-17 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Mean change from baseline in motor unit firing rates using decomposition electromyography (dEMG)
Measured over Measured 4-7 days prior to the start of intervention (Week 1) and 4-7 days after 4 weeks of intervention (Week 6 and Week 11).
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Myasthenia Gravis
Lambert-eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
Primary Lateral Sclerosis
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT)
Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Inclusion Body Myositis
Mitochondrial Myopathy
Nemaline Myopathy
Centronuclear Myopathy
Postpolio Syndrome
Pompe Disease (Late-onset)
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Progressive Muscular Atrophy

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Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Missouri1

Who to contact

Kristina M Kelly, DPT, MS, EdM
[email protected]
573-884-2596
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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 or older
Diagnosed with one or more of the following neuromuscular conditions: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscle atrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, postpolio syndrome, inclusion body myositis, pompedisease, fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, charcot marie tooth disease, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, hereditary spastic paraplegia, myasthenia gravis, lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, mitochondrial myopathy, nemaline myopathy, centronuclear myopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, non-specific low back pain.
Ability to stand for approximately 15 minutes continuously with or without an assistive device (i.e. the length of time to stand to take a shower, complete meal preparation, wait in line at the bank, etc.)
At least some anti-gravity strength in major muscle groups as assessed by manual muscle testing (i.e. 2+/5 strength or better)
Medical clearance to participate in an exercise program
Ability to provide informed consent
Ability to conform to the requirements of the study (i.e. attendance at assessment and intervention visits, maintain current level of non-study physical activity for the duration of the study, no intention to relocate mid-study)

Exclusion

Diagnosed with one of the following neuromuscular conditions: Becker's muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy type 1 or 2, Freidrich's ataxia, any other NMD with known or suspected cardiac involvement or muscle fiber structural integrity defects.
Concurrent participation in another interventional research study
Unable to tolerate 15 minutes of continuous standing with or without an assistive device
Presence of a pacemaker, metal implants, or other implanted medical devices that could impact participant safety during WB-EMS intervention
Presence of cochlear implant, cortical stimulator, deep brain stimulator, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, recent skull defect, seizure in the past 12 months while taking anti-epilepsy medication, or previous serious adverse event with TMS, which could impact participant safety during TMS testing
Presence of unstable acute or chronic disease (i.e. renal failure, rheumatologic disease, cardia arrhythmia, neoplasm, uncontrolled hypertension)
Known pregnancy at time of screening; verbal screening will occur throughout the study.
Presence of a terminal disease (i.e. receiving hospice services)
Current or previous use of any drugs known to influence muscle mass or performance within 6 months; these may include but are not limited to anabolic steroids, IGF01, growth hormone, replacement androgen therapy, anti-androgen therapy
Presence of an additional neurologic conditions affecting somatosensory or motor function/control (i.e. Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, h/o stroke, TBI, SCI, ataxia, apraxia, hemiplegia, etc.)
Musculoskeletal condition or surgery in the past year that would confound results of exercise interventions (i.e. TKA, THA, RTC repair, spinal fusion)
Other medical conditions, signs, or symptoms that would interfere with study conductor interpretation of results as determined by an investigator

What this trial measures

  • Mean change from baseline in motor unit firing rates using decomposition electromyography (dEMG)Measured 4-7 days prior to the start of intervention (Week 1) and 4-7 days after 4 weeks of intervention (Week 6 and Week 11).

    Decomposition electromyography (dEMG) is a measurement of motor unit activity; a surface electrode will be placed over the vastus lateralis in the thigh and participants will be asked to activate that muscle. Participants will take standardized positions, sitting with knee at a 75-degree angle. Participants will perform three 5-second maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC); this will be followed by 2 contractions each at 35%, 50% and 70% MVC using a trapezoidal force matching protocol.

  • Mean change from baseline in motor evoked potentials using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)Measured 4-7 days prior to the start of intervention (Week 1) and 4-7 days after 4 weeks of intervention (Week 6 and Week 11).

    Motor evoked potentials are a measure of neural excitability. They are generated by placing a magnetic coil over the skull. The output will be measured from surface electrodes over the vastus lateralis muscle in the quadriceps. We will be assessing the corticospinal pathway. Participants will take standardized positions, sitting with knee at a 75-degree angle. Participants will perform six contractions at 10% MVC, and four contractions each at 30%, 50% and 70% MVC. Magnetic pulses will be applied during each contraction.

  • Mean change from baseline in compound muscle action potential ampliutde using standard nerve conduction study techniqueMeasured 4-7 days prior to the start of intervention (Week 1) and 4-7 days after 4 weeks of intervention (Week 6 and Week 11).

    A small amount of electrical stimulation (enough to ensure that the largest possible response is elicited) will be applied to the skin surface over the femoral nerve at the anterior hip. Surface recording electrodes will be placed over the vastus lateralis in the thigh to read out the muscle's response to the nerve stimulation; this is the compound muscle action potential. It is a measure of motor unit health.

  • Mean change from baseline in timed functional testsMeasured 4-7 days prior to the start of intervention (Week 1) and 4-7 days after 4 weeks of intervention (Week 6 and Week 11).

    To capture changes in time to perform common functional movements relevant to maintenance of independence for adults with neuromuscular disease, the investigators will collect data on 10-meter walk/run test, timed up and go test (rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, and return to sitting in chair at comfortable and fast speeds), 5-time sit-to-stand test (perform 5 times consecutively sitting to standing to sitting again), and 4-stair ascent and descent test (climb 4 stairs and descend 4 stairs with and without handrails).