Shocking muscles to move: new exercise hope for nerve disease patients
NCT ID NCT07478172
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.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 50 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Diagnosed with one or more of the following neuromuscular conditions: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscle atrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, postpolio syndrome, inclusion body myositis, pompedisease, fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, charcot marie tooth disease, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, hereditary spastic paraplegia, myasthenia gravis, lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, mitochondrial myopathy, nemaline myopathy, centronuclear myopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, non-specific low back pain. * Ability to stand for approximately 15 minutes continuously with or without an assistive device (i.e. the length of time to stand to take a shower, complete meal preparation, wait in line at the bank, etc.) * At least some anti-gravity strength in major muscle groups as assessed by manual muscle testing (i.e. 2+/5 strength or better) * Medical clearance to participate in an exercise program * Ability to provide informed consent * Ability to conform to the requirements of the study (i.e. attendance at assessment and intervention visits, maintain current level of non-study physical activity for the duration of the study, no intention to relocate mid-study) Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with one of the following neuromuscular conditions: Becker's muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy type 1 or 2, Freidrich's ataxia, any other NMD with known or suspected cardiac involvement or muscle fiber structural integrity defects. * Concurrent participation in another interventional research study * Unable to tolerate 15 minutes of continuous standing with or without an assistive device * Presence of a pacemaker, metal implants, or other implanted medical devices that could impact participant safety during WB-EMS intervention * Presence of cochlear implant, cortical stimulator, deep brain stimulator, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, recent skull defect, seizure in the past 12 months while taking anti-epilepsy medication, or previous serious adverse event with TMS, which could impact participant safety during TMS testing * Presence of unstable acute or chronic disease (i.e. renal failure, rheumatologic disease, cardia arrhythmia, neoplasm, uncontrolled hypertension) * Known pregnancy at time of screening; verbal screening will occur throughout the study. * Presence of a terminal disease (i.e. receiving hospice services) * Current or previous use of any drugs known to influence muscle mass or performance within 6 months; these may include but are not limited to anabolic steroids, IGF01, growth hormone, replacement androgen therapy, anti-androgen therapy * Presence of an additional neurologic conditions affecting somatosensory or motor function/control (i.e. Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, h/o stroke, TBI, SCI, ataxia, apraxia, hemiplegia, etc.) * Musculoskeletal condition or surgery in the past year that would confound results of exercise interventions (i.e. TKA, THA, RTC repair, spinal fusion) * Other medical conditions, signs, or symptoms that would interfere with study conductor interpretation of results as determined by an investigator
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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NextGen Precision Health Building, Clinical and Translational Science Unit
RECRUITINGColumbia, Missouri, 65211, United States
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