Neuromuscular FatigueLENGTH-FATIGNCT03049241
Neuromuscular Fatigue Aetiology Comparison Between Prepubertal Boys and Adults
An observational study of Neuromuscular Fatigue, run by University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Potential factors involved in neuromuscular fatigue were classified into two categories: 1) central factors involving the central nervous system and neural pathways, and 2) peripheral factors occurring within the muscle beyond the neuromuscular junction. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 8 to 35 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Neuromuscular Fatigue
- What is being tested?
- neuromuscular fatigue
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 13 Feb 2017to 20 Nov 2017
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 8 to 35 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Study population: prepubertal boys and adults
Who may be able to join
- Boys aged 8 to 11 years old, Tanner stages 1 to 3
- Male aged 18 to 35 years old
- Non-smoker
- Moderate physical activity level (< 4h/week)
- Covered by a social health insurance
- Consent form signed by participants and/or legal guardians.
Who cannot join
- Competitive training
- Cardiac or pulmonary diseases
- Epileptic seizures past history
- Magnetic field contraindication (including cardiac valve, pacemaker, prosthesis material, ferro-magnetic foreign body, cochlear implant and ocular prosthesis material.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Potential factors involved in neuromuscular fatigue were classified into two categories: 1) central factors involving the central nervous system and neural pathways, and 2) peripheral factors occurring within the muscle beyond the neuromuscular junction. In adults, it has been shown that peripheral factors contribute to a large part of the fatigue induced by repeated maximal contractions. However in children, central factors could account for the development of fatigue to a greater extent. Force-generating capacity and musculotendinous stiffness could be two of the discriminatory factors accounting for the differences in the neuromuscular fatigue between children and adults.
Force production capacity and musculotendinous stiffness vary as function of muscle length. Naturally, they could differ depending on the muscle groups studied. The main aim of the present protocol is to compare the effect of knee extensors and ankle plantarflexors length on the development and aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue, in children and adults. The investigators formulated the hypotheses that at short muscle length force and low musculotendinous stiffness, differences in force between children and adults would be reduced. Thus neuromuscular fatigue development and aetiology would be similar between both groups. The results of the present protocol will allow to better understanding of the aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue in children and help improving training or rehabilitation programs.
Read the detailed description
The study of neuromuscular fatigue in children is a recently topic in the field of sport sciences. Such knowledge could improve the efficiency and security of training and rehabilitation in healthy children and children with diseases like obesity.
The LENGTH-FATIG study will provide knowledge about the peripheral and central mechanisms of the neuromuscular fatigue in children and adults. Fatigue will test for different muscle groups (knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors) at different muscle lengths (short, optimal and long).
During high-intensity exercise, prepubertal children are more resistant to fatigue than adults. Contributions of the central and peripheral components to the development of neuromuscular fatigue are also different between both populations. The reduced children's fatigue coud be particularly related to a lower peripheral (i.e. muscular) fatigue. This might be attributed to the fact that prepubertal children rely more on oxidative than anaerobic metabolism than adults during fatiguing exercise. On the other hand, nervous factors could also explain differences in fatigue between children and adults. However, this topic is scarcely documented and still controversial. To our knowledge, no study has still compared the aetiology of central fatigue (supra-spinal vs. spinal) between children and adults. Only the voluntary activation level had been studied in children, conventionally used to assess central fatigue. But this factor doesn't differentiate spinal and supra-spinal contributions to neuromuscular fatigue development.
The LENGTH-FATIG research project is a physiological and observational study comparing two age groups (adults and children). Subjects will have to perform three randomized fatigue protocols at three muscle lengths (short, optimal and long) with the knee extensors and the ankle plantar flexors.
Data will be analyzed using LabChart 7.3 Pro software (ADInstrument, New South Wales, Australia) and Statistica 8.0 software (StatSoft, Inc.) and significance will be accepted at a two-sided alpha level of p<.05. The normality and homogeneity of the variables will be checked respectively from a Shapiro-Wilk test and a Barlett test.
If normality and homogeneity of the variables are verified, absolute values of variables (Force, EMG, NIRS, etc.) will be compared using three factors (age x muscle length x muscle group) analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. If analyses reveal a significant effect of any factor or interaction of factors, post-hoc Newman-Keuls tests will be performed to determine differences between the different conditions.
If, on the contrary, normality and homogeneity of the variables are not verified, the effects of muscle length, muscle group and age will be evaluated using a Friedman test. If the tests show significant effects, comparisons of the different conditions will be performed using Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.
- Conditions
- Neuromuscular Fatigue
- Being tested
- neuromuscular fatigue
- Keywords
- Children, Neuromuscular fatigue, Muscle group, Magnetic Nerve stimulation, Muscle length, Stiffness, prepubertal children, adults
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
neuromuscular fatigueOther
The main aim of the present protocol is to compare the effect of knee extensors and ankle plantarflexors length on the development and aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue, in children and adults
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| knee extensors | Not described Receives: Other: neuromuscular fatigue | |
| ankle plantar | Not described Receives: Other: neuromuscular fatigue |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximal torque of knee extensors
Measured: once a week during six weeks.
ankle plantar flexors joint (in N.m) measured with a dynamometer.
Measured: once a week during six weeks.
Secondary outcomes (10)
Doublet torque amplitude (100Hz, in N.m) evoked using magnetic nerve stimulation at rest
Measured: once a week during six weeks.
Muscular tissue oxygenation (in μmol.L-1) measured at skin surface by Near-infrared spectroscopy.
Measured: once a week during six weeks
Compound muscle action potential amplitude (i.e. M-wave ; in mV) evoked by supramaximal magnetic nerve stimulation and measured by surface Electromyography (EMG).
Measured: once a week during six weeks
High frequency doublet (100Hz)/low frequency doublet (10Hz) ratio
Measured: once a week during six weeks
fascicule length (mm) measured by B-mode real time ultrasound scanner.
Measured: once a week during six weeks
pennation angle (degree) measured by B-mode real time ultrasound scanner.
Measured: once a week during six weeks
Voluntary activation level (in %) assessed by using the twitch interpolation technique.
Measured: once a week during six weeks
EMG signal Root mean square of EMG signal during isometric maximal voluntary contractions.
Measured: once a week during six weeks
Hoffman reflex amplitude (i.e. H-reflex ; in mV) evoked by submaximal magnetic nerve stimulation measured by surface Electromyography (EMG).
Measured: once a week during six weeks
Cerebral tissue oxygenation (in μmol.L-1) measured at skin surface by Near-infrared spectroscopy
Measured: once a week during six weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Feb 2017
- Study start13 Feb 2017
- Primary completion20 Nov 2017
- Study completion20 Nov 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Neuromuscular FatigueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University Hospital, Clermont-FerrandThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Laboratoire des Adaptations Métaboliques à l'Exercice en conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Martine DUCLOS, Principal investigator, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03049241
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CHU-304
- Other IDs
- 2016-A00827-44
- Acronym
- LENGTH-FATIG
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Feb 2017
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Piponnier E, Martin V, Bontemps B, Chalchat E, Julian V, Bocock O, Duclos M, Ratel S. Child-adult differences in neuromuscular fatigue are muscle dependent. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2018 Oct 1;125(4):1246-1256. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00244.2018. Epub 2018 Aug 9.
PubMed 30091669
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Neuromuscular Fatigue Aetiology Comparison Between Prepubertal Boys and Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03049241
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LENGTH-FATIG / CHU-304
- Conditions
- Neuromuscular Fatigue
- Keywords
- Children, Neuromuscular fatigue, Muscle group, Magnetic Nerve stimulation, Muscle length, Stiffness, prepubertal children, adults
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Clermont-FerrandUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Laboratoire des Adaptations Métaboliques à l'Exercice en conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques
- Study start
- 13 Feb 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Nov 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Nov 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Feb 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Potential factors involved in neuromuscular fatigue were classified into two categories: 1) central factors involving the central nervous system and neural pathways, and 2) peripheral factors occurring within the muscle beyond the neuromuscular junction. In adults, it has been shown that peripheral factors contribute to a large part of the fatigue induced by repeated maximal contractions. However in children, central factors could account for the development of fatigue to a greater extent. Force-generating capacity and musculotendinous stiffness could be two of the discriminatory factors accounting for the differences in the neuromuscular fatigue between children and adults.
Force production capacity and musculotendinous stiffness vary as function of muscle length. Naturally, they could differ depending on the muscle groups studied. The main aim of the present protocol is to compare the effect of knee extensors and ankle plantarflexors length on the development and aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue, in children and adults. The investigators formulated the hypotheses that at short muscle length force and low musculotendinous stiffness, differences in force between children and adults would be reduced. Thus neuromuscular fatigue development and aetiology would be similar between both groups. The results of the present protocol will allow to better understanding of the aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue in children and help improving training or rehabilitation programs.
Detailed description
The study of neuromuscular fatigue in children is a recently topic in the field of sport sciences. Such knowledge could improve the efficiency and security of training and rehabilitation in healthy children and children with diseases like obesity.
The LENGTH-FATIG study will provide knowledge about the peripheral and central mechanisms of the neuromuscular fatigue in children and adults. Fatigue will test for different muscle groups (knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors) at different muscle lengths (short, optimal and long).
During high-intensity exercise, prepubertal children are more resistant to fatigue than adults. Contributions of the central and peripheral components to the development of neuromuscular fatigue are also different between both populations. The reduced children's fatigue coud be particularly related to a lower peripheral (i.e. muscular) fatigue. This might be attributed to the fact that prepubertal children rely more on oxidative than anaerobic metabolism than adults during fatiguing exercise. On the other hand, nervous factors could also explain differences in fatigue between children and adults. However, this topic is scarcely documented and still controversial. To our knowledge, no study has still compared the aetiology of central fatigue (supra-spinal vs. spinal) between children and adults. Only the voluntary activation level had been studied in children, conventionally used to assess central fatigue. But this factor doesn't differentiate spinal and supra-spinal contributions to neuromuscular fatigue development.
The LENGTH-FATIG research project is a physiological and observational study comparing two age groups (adults and children). Subjects will have to perform three randomized fatigue protocols at three muscle lengths (short, optimal and long) with the knee extensors and the ankle plantar flexors.
Data will be analyzed using LabChart 7.3 Pro software (ADInstrument, New South Wales, Australia) and Statistica 8.0 software (StatSoft, Inc.) and significance will be accepted at a two-sided alpha level of p<.05. The normality and homogeneity of the variables will be checked respectively from a Shapiro-Wilk test and a Barlett test.
If normality and homogeneity of the variables are verified, absolute values of variables (Force, EMG, NIRS, etc.) will be compared using three factors (age x muscle length x muscle group) analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. If analyses reveal a significant effect of any factor or interaction of factors, post-hoc Newman-Keuls tests will be performed to determine differences between the different conditions.
If, on the contrary, normality and homogeneity of the variables are not verified, the effects of muscle length, muscle group and age will be evaluated using a Friedman test. If the tests show significant effects, comparisons of the different conditions will be performed using Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| knee extensors | – | Other: neuromuscular fatigue |
| ankle plantar | – | Other: neuromuscular fatigue |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 8 to 35 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
- Study population
- prepubertal boys and adults
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Boys aged 8 to 11 years old, Tanner stages 1 to 3
- Male aged 18 to 35 years old
- Non-smoker
- Moderate physical activity level (< 4h/week)
- Covered by a social health insurance
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Competitive training
- Cardiac or pulmonary diseases
- Epileptic seizures past history
- Magnetic field contraindication (including cardiac valve, pacemaker, prosthesis material, ferro-magnetic foreign body, cochlear implant and ocular prosthesis material.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| neuromuscular fatigueThe main aim of the present protocol is to compare the effect of knee extensors and ankle plantarflexors length on the development and aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue, in children and adults | Other | ankle plantar, knee extensors |
Primary outcome
Maximal torque of knee extensors
Time frame: once a week during six weeks.
ankle plantar flexors joint (in N.m) measured with a dynamometer.
Time frame: once a week during six weeks.
10 secondary outcomes
Doublet torque amplitude (100Hz, in N.m) evoked using magnetic nerve stimulation at rest
Time frame: once a week during six weeks.
Muscular tissue oxygenation (in μmol.L-1) measured at skin surface by Near-infrared spectroscopy.
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
Compound muscle action potential amplitude (i.e. M-wave ; in mV) evoked by supramaximal magnetic nerve stimulation and measured by surface Electromyography (EMG).
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
High frequency doublet (100Hz)/low frequency doublet (10Hz) ratio
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
fascicule length (mm) measured by B-mode real time ultrasound scanner.
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
pennation angle (degree) measured by B-mode real time ultrasound scanner.
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
Voluntary activation level (in %) assessed by using the twitch interpolation technique.
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
EMG signal Root mean square of EMG signal during isometric maximal voluntary contractions.
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
Hoffman reflex amplitude (i.e. H-reflex ; in mV) evoked by submaximal magnetic nerve stimulation measured by surface Electromyography (EMG).
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
Cerebral tissue oxygenation (in μmol.L-1) measured at skin surface by Near-infrared spectroscopy
Time frame: once a week during six weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 30091669Piponnier E, Martin V, Bontemps B, Chalchat E, Julian V, Bocock O, Duclos M, Ratel S. Child-adult differences in neuromuscular fatigue are muscle dependent. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2018 Oct 1;125(4):1246-1256. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00244.2018. Epub 2018 Aug 9.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Martine DUCLOS principal investigator
University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Neuromuscular Fatigue, run by University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximal torque of knee extensors (time frame: once a week during six weeks.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03049241, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2026.