Old Age; DebilityNCT07646405
Combined Effects of NMES and LIRT on Muscle Strength, Girth, and Physical Endurance in the Geriatric Population
A study testing Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and lOW intensity resistance training in people with Old Age; Debility, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design with a pre-post design to investigate the combined effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Low-Intensity Resistance Training (LIRT) on muscle strength, muscle girth, and physical endurance in the geriatric population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 85 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Old Age; Debility
- What is being tested?
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and lOW intensity resistance training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 17 May 2026to 6 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 to 85 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Both male and female will be added(29)
- Patients with low calf muscle mass <31.5 cm for females and <33.5 cm for males will be included in this study(36).
- Participants able to complete the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test in ≤ 10 seconds (men) or ≤ 11 seconds (women)(37).
- Participants must have ability to walk independently and absence of severe medical conditions(29).
- Participants who takes > 12 seconds to complete TUG will be included in this study(38
- Exclusion Criteria:• Participants with contraindications to NMES or RT, such as pacemakers or severe cardiovascular disease(29).
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- Participants with a MoCA score of less than 26 will be excluded to ensure adequate cognitive ability to comprehend and follow the study protocol, including exercise and neuromuscular stimulation procedures (39).
- Participants with any musculoskeletal issues will be excluded from this study(35).
- Participants with neuromuscular disorders that may affect muscle strength or function(29).
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Study site
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
About this study
Official title: Combined Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Low-intensity Resistance Training on Muscle Strength, Girth, and Physical Endurance in Geriatric Population
This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design with a pre-post design to investigate the combined effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Low-Intensity Resistance Training (LIRT) on muscle strength, muscle girth, and physical endurance in the geriatric population. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
Read the detailed description
- Informed Consent: Obtain informed consent from participants before starting the study.
- Demographic Data Collection: Collect demographic data, including age, sex, height, weight, and medical history.
- Muscle Strength Assessment: Measure muscle strength using a dynamometer (e.g., handgrip strength or knee extension strength).
- Muscle Girth Measurement: Measure muscle girth using a flexible measuring tape (e.g., mid-upper arm or thigh circumference).
- 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT): Conduct the 6MWT to assess physical endurance. Intervention
- NMES Sessions: Administer NMES sessions 2-3 times a week for 4-5 weeks.
- LIRT Sessions: Conduct LIRT exercises 2-3 times a week for 4-5weeks, targeting major muscle groups of upper and lower limb.
- Conditions
- Old Age; Debility
- Being tested
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, lOW intensity resistance training
- Keywords
- NMES, LIRT, Muscle strength, Girth, Geriatic population
- Medical subject headings
- Frailty
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulationOther
Prior to the initiation of resistance training, participants will receive 20 minutes of NMES targeting the gastrocnemius and calf muscles Frequency: 35 Hz Pulse duration: 300 µs
Following NMES, participants will undergo a 20-minute LIRT session comprising the following exercises:
lOW intensity resistance trainingOther
Seated Leg Press with Thera Band Resistance (Sole Support Position) Participants will be seated with a Thera Band looped around the soles of their feet and held in the hands to provide resistance during leg extension.
Repetitions: 10 Sets: 3 Rest Interval: 30-60 seconds between sets
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Neuromuscular electrical stimulation | Experimental | Prior to the initiation of resistance training, participants will receive 20 minutes of NMES targeting the gastrocnemius and calf muscles Frequency: 35 Hz Pulse duration: 300 µs
Following NMES, participants will undergo a 20-minute LIRT session comprising the following exercises: Receives: Other: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation |
| conventinal | Active comparator | 5minutes cool-down will be given after allocated interventions to participants of both groups. Gentle foot massage and stretching relaxation will be included in cool-down. Receives: Other: lOW intensity resistance training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Manual muscle testing (MMT) for strength measurement
Muscle strength will be assessed using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) of the plantar flexors and knee extensors based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) 0-5 grading scale. Each muscle group will be tested twice on the dominant side, and the higher grade will be recorded. Participants with grades ≤3 will be classified as having low muscle strength, while those with grades ≥4 will be considered to have sufficient strength for participation in low-intensity resistance training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). MMT is a reliable and widely used clinical method for muscle strength assessment
Measured: baseline to 4 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Jun 2026
- Study start17 May 2026
- Primary completion6 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion6 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Old Age; DebilityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sabiha Arshad, MS, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07646405
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/25/0217
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 12 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Combined Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Low-intensity Resistance Training on Muscle Strength, Girth, and Physical Endurance in Geriatric Population
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07646405
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/25/0217
- Conditions
- Old Age; Debility
- Keywords
- NMES, LIRT, Muscle strength, Girth, Geriatic population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 6 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Jun 2026 (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.
This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design with a pre-post design to investigate the combined effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Low-Intensity Resistance Training (LIRT) on muscle strength, muscle girth, and physical endurance in the geriatric population. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
Detailed description
- Informed Consent: Obtain informed consent from participants before starting the study.
- Demographic Data Collection: Collect demographic data, including age, sex, height, weight, and medical history.
- Muscle Strength Assessment: Measure muscle strength using a dynamometer (e.g., handgrip strength or knee extension strength).
- Muscle Girth Measurement: Measure muscle girth using a flexible measuring tape (e.g., mid-upper arm or thigh circumference).
- 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT): Conduct the 6MWT to assess physical endurance. Intervention
- NMES Sessions: Administer NMES sessions 2-3 times a week for 4-5 weeks.
- LIRT Sessions: Conduct LIRT exercises 2-3 times a week for 4-5weeks, targeting major muscle groups of upper and lower limb.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Neuromuscular electrical stimulation | Experimental | Other: Neuromuscular electrical stimulationPrior to the initiation of resistance training, participants will receive 20 minutes of NMES targeting the gastrocnemius and calf muscles Frequency: 35 Hz Pulse duration: 300 µs Following NMES, participants will undergo a 20-minute LIRT session comprising the following exercises: |
| conventinal | Active comparator | Other: lOW intensity resistance training5minutes cool-down will be given after allocated interventions to participants of both groups. Gentle foot massage and stretching relaxation will be included in cool-down. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Both male and female will be added(29)
- Patients with low calf muscle mass <31.5 cm for females and <33.5 cm for males will be included in this study(36).
- Participants able to complete the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test in ≤ 10 seconds (men) or ≤ 11 seconds (women)(37).
- Participants must have ability to walk independently and absence of severe medical conditions(29).
- Participants who takes > 12 seconds to complete TUG will be included in this study(38
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
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 electrical stimulationPrior to the initiation of resistance training, participants will receive 20 minutes of NMES targeting the gastrocnemius and calf muscles Frequency: 35 Hz Pulse duration: 300 µs Following NMES, participants will undergo a 20-minute LIRT session comprising the following exercises: | Other | Neuromuscular electrical stimulation |
| lOW intensity resistance trainingSeated Leg Press with Thera Band Resistance (Sole Support Position) Participants will be seated with a Thera Band looped around the soles of their feet and held in the hands to provide resistance during leg extension. Repetitions: 10 Sets: 3 Rest Interval: 30-60 seconds between sets | Other | conventinal |
Primary outcome
Manual muscle testing (MMT) for strength measurement
Time frame: baseline to 4 week
Muscle strength will be assessed using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) of the plantar flexors and knee extensors based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) 0-5 grading scale. Each muscle group will be tested twice on the dominant side, and the higher grade will be recorded. Participants with grades ≤3 will be classified as having low muscle strength, while those with grades ≥4 will be considered to have sufficient strength for participation in low-intensity resistance training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). MMT is a reliable and widely used clinical method for muscle strength assessment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Sabiha Arshad, MS principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and lOW intensity resistance training in people with Old Age; Debility, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 9 inclusion and 0 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jun 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 Pakistan. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Isha butt butt, DPT (03324390215, ishamb.09876@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Manual muscle testing (MMT) for strength measurement (time frame: baseline to 4 week). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 12 Jun 2026.