Disentangling Neural and Local Muscle Mechanisms of Cross-Education During Lower-Limb Immobilization

When humans experience periods of disuse or immobilization in a brace or a cast or after significant injury, muscle strength and size decline dramatically and rapidly. Muscle size can decrease 0.5% per day and strength by 10% in the first week. These declines are often exaggerated in weight-bearing muscles of the lower-limbs such as the thigh. A novel approach to offset the declines in function during immobilization is by incorporating resistance training of the non-target muscles on the opposite side of the body, through an effect known as “cross-education”. However, the published evidence for cross-education to offset weakness has only examined upper-limb muscles (e.g. forearm). This project aims to be the first multi-site study to examine these preservation effects in the leg muscles, using a knee brace and crutching model of disuse in healthy participants. The project will provide insight into the physiological mechanisms that offset strength loss and atrophy during leg disuse. Since lower-limb immobilization studies are difficult to complete, the study will be conducted at two institutions with each site offering a unique contribution of expertise and research tools.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jonathan Farthing

Student:

Partner:

Northumbria University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Health and Related Sciences and Technology

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: