Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41212312›Full record

Trial reportEating and weight disorders : EWD2025

Motor placebo effect in obesity: how ergogenic aids can decrease fatigue and improve motor performance.

Valeria Volpino, Maria Elena Navarra, Federica Scarpina, Alessandro Piedimonte, Massimo Scacchi, Laura Bianchi, Alessandro Mauro, Elisa Carlino

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Eating and weight disorders : EWD, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07624812 (Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence of the Modulation of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing Remitting Form), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07624812 nacompletednot on this map

Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence of the Modulation of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing Remitting Form: a Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorIstituto Auxologico ItalianoRan2025 to 2026Enrolled36ConditionsMultiple Sclerosis (MS) - Relapsing-remittingArmsTENS therapy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Valeria VolpinoDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Maria Elena NavarraDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Federica ScarpinaDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy. f.scarpina@auxologico.it.
Alessandro PiedimonteDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Massimo ScacchiDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Della Commenda, 19, 20122, Milan, Italy.
Laura BianchiServizio di Neurofisiopatologia, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 28824 Piancavallo, Oggebbio, VCO, Italy.
Alessandro MauroDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Elisa CarlinoDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy.

Funding

Italian Ministry of Health - Ricerca Corrente 21C305Italian Ministry of University and Research (M.U.R.) - PRIN 2022 2022AL38E4
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeObesity is associated with increased perceived fatigue and reduced physical activity. This study tested whether a placebo ergogenic treatment could reduce perceived exertion and enhance motor performance in individuals with obesity.

methodsForty-four participants were randomized to a Placebo group, which received sham transcutaneous electrical stimulation paired with positive suggestions, or to a Control group. Endurance (repetitions), perceived exertion (RPE load), and the late Readiness Potential were recorded during a finger-flexion task performed to exhaustion at 60% 1-RM in two sessions separated by 30 min of rest. Outcomes (Repetitions, RPE load, and RP amplitude) were expressed as percentage change (Δ%) from baseline to test, and group differences were analysed through one-way ANOVAs.

resultsCompared with Controls, the Placebo group exhibited smaller declines in repetitions and RPE load and a smaller increase in RP amplitude. Outcomes are in line with a reduced perceived fatigue.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that positive expectations can alleviate perceived fatigue and reduce the cortical cost of motor preparation in obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Randomized Experimental Trial.

Indexed as

FatigueObesityPhysical ExertionPlacebo EffectPsychomotor PerformanceAdultFemaleHumansMalePhysical EnduranceTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationYoung AdultFatigueMotor performanceObesityPlaceboReadiness potential

Identifiers

PMID41212312
PMCPMC12602626

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.