Shocking muscles to move: new exercise hope for nerve disease patients

NCT ID NCT07478172

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) can help adults with neuromuscular diseases like ALS, SMA, and muscular dystrophy exercise safely. Because these conditions weaken the nerves that control muscles, traditional exercise is often too hard. WB-EMS uses a special suit to directly stimulate muscles, bypassing damaged nerves. Up to 50 participants will do 20-minute sessions 1-2 times a week for up to 8 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in muscle strength, walking speed, balance, and fatigue to see if this approach improves daily life.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) via the Katalyst device
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a safe exercise option for people with neuromuscular diseases who struggle with traditional workouts, potentially improving strength and daily function.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early pilot study with no control group, so results may not be conclusive. The device may not work for all conditions, and there is a risk of muscle soreness or discomfort.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis centronuclear myopathy Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy congenital structural myopathy facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy glycogen storage disease due to acid maltase deficiency, late-onset glycogen storage disease II Glycogen Storage Disease Type II hereditary spastic paraplegia inborn mitochondrial myopathy inclusion body myositis Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome lateral sclerosis motor neuron disorder myasthenia gravis nemaline myopathy neuromuscular disease postpoliomyelitis syndrome postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome progressive muscular atrophy spinal muscular atrophy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS CENTRONUCLEAR MYOPATHY CHARCOT MARIE TOOTH DISEASE (CMT) CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY FASCIOSCAPULOHUMERAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY HEREDITARY SPASTIC PARAPLEGIA INCLUSION BODY MYOSITIS LAMBERT-EATON MYASTHENIC SYNDROME MITOCHONDRIAL MYOPATHY MYASTHENIA GRAVIS NEMALINE MYOPATHY NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES (NMD) POMPE DISEASE LATE-ONSET POSTPOLIO SYNDROME POSTURAL ORTHOSTATIC TACHYCARDIA SYNDROME (POTS) PRIMARY LATERAL SCLEROSIS PROGRESSIVE MUSCULAR ATROPHY SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY

Contacts and locations

Locations

NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science Unit
RECRUITING

Columbia, Missouri, 65211, United States

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