Cross-education of Skill and Strength in Healthy People Subjected to an Upper-limb Disuse Model
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Contralateral Manual Dexterity Training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Disuse Atrophy, Immobilization. Basic parameters: 18 years — 35 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Chile
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Cross-education of Skill and Strength Through Contralateral Manual Dexterity Training in Healthy Young Adults Subjected to an Upper-limb Disuse Model: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Overview
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare manual dexterity and strength between a group undergoing a contralateral manual dexterity training program and a no-intervention control group in healthy, physically inactive individuals subjected to an induced upper-limb disuse model.
Detailed description
Cross-education of skill offers promising opportunities for the rehabilitation of upper-limb musculoskeletal injuries. An approach based on contralateral manual dexterity training could accelerate functional recovery, reduce motor skill loss during periods of immobilization, and optimize conventional rehabilitation protocols. However, controlled studies are needed to analyze the efficacy of specific unilateral training protocols designed to maximize cross-education before clinical translation. To date, no experimental studies have been published on healthy individuals subjected to upper-limb disuse models alongside contralateral skill training involving functional tasks. This cross-education effect could potentially prevent the loss of manual dexterity and strength that occurs during immobilization. For this research, a contralateral manual dexterity training protocol was developed based on the functional limitations commonly experienced by individuals with forearm and hand musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., distal radius fractures, wrist sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendinopathies). Additionally, the protocol incorporates characteristics from training programs that have demonstrated the greatest cross-education effect.
Interventions
- Other Contralateral Manual Dexterity Training
The subjects in the experimental group will perform contralateral manual dexterity training focused on moving cylinders of 0.5, 1 or 1.5 kilos with grips and movements in different planes on a gridded board. Participants will have to develop different grips and place the cylinders in the quadrants indicated on a smartphone screen.
Primary outcome measures
- Fine Manual Dexterity [Time frame: Baseline and day 7]
- Force control [Time frame: Baseline and day 7]
- Gross Manual Dexterity [Time frame: Baseline and day 7]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Handgrip strength [Time frame: Baseline and day 7]
- Joint Position Sense Test [Time frame: Baseline and day 7]
- Left/right judgment [Time frame: Baseline and day 7]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Individuals will be eligible for inclusion if they are right-handed adults aged 18 to 35 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m².
- Individuals must be classified as physically inactive, defined as not meeting the World Health Organization criteria of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week.
Exclusion criteria
- Individuals who have engaged in physical training (e.g., any form of strength or aerobic exercise) or specific manual dexterity training within the past 6 months. - Individuals who regularly participate in artistic, occupational, or sporting activities requiring high levels of manual dexterity (e.g., musicians, gamers, craftspeople).
- Individuals with a history of orthopedic or traumatic injuries affecting either upper extremity. Individuals with pathologies or conditions that preclude safe training (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, or visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments \[for example, dyscalculia\]).
- Individuals currently using nutritional supplements or medications that interfere with the regulation of skeletal muscle mass and strength (e.g., whey protein, creatine) or the central nervous system (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Chile · 1 center
- UCT, Facultad de ciencias de la Salud — Temuco
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07615062 · INMO-CROSS-2026