Press releases – January 2025
Jan
17
2025
15:50
Seeking participants for new sports science study at 51 Frankfurt
Suffering from (nocturnal) muscle cramps?
Whether after physical exertion, during work or sleep – muscle cramps often occur suddenly and have a significant impact on one's well-being. Although many people experience such cramps, there are still no reliable methods for their prevention. Several innovative approaches are being researched at 51's Institute of Sports Science, which is urgently seeking test subjects for a study.
FRANKFURT. What is the best way of effectively reducing muscle cramps? This is the focus of a study led by Christoph Skutschik, research associate at the Department of Sports Medicine and Performance Physiology at 51's Institute of Sports Science. The study researches the effectiveness of electrostimulation training carried out at home, comparing it to conventional approaches, in particular the intake of magnesium supplements. The neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) developed by Prof. Michael Behringer, who heads the research area, stimulates nerve and muscle fibers using electrical impulses. The technique is intended to prevent or reduce the occurrence of muscle cramps, the cause of which has not yet been fully clarified. Recent research results indicate that the main root is to be found in the nerve fibers.
The study lasts a total of 16 weeks, during which participants must be physically present in the laboratory four times: first to collect basic data on health and muscle cramps and for an introduction to the methodology; then for initial measurements and allocation to one of the test groups; subsequently and following four weeks of therapeutic use once again for measurement; and finally, after a further six weeks, to document the long-term effects.
The study is open to anyone between the age of 18 and 69 who regularly suffers from muscle cramps and is willing to participate over a period of 16 weeks in the home applications (magnesium intake or NMES therapy) and the four laboratory visits mentioned above. Prospective participants should not suffer from any serious health restrictions (injuries to the lower extremities within the past six months, neuro-psychiatric diseases such as multiple sclerosis, dementia or epilepsy, kidney disease, acute cardiovascular disease or pacemakers).
The study is intended to result in new and better ways of preventing muscle cramps, from which the participants themselves may already benefit. Participation is voluntary and can be terminated at any time without providing any reasons. The data will be pseudonymized and processed in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Contact:
Christoph Skutschik
Research Associate|
Institute of Sports Science
51 Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798 244 89
E-Mail: skutschik@sport.uni-frankfurt.de
Background information:
/118615181.pdf
Editor: Dr. Anke Sauter, Science Editor, PR & Communication Office, Tel: +49 (0)69 798-13066, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, sauter@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
Jan
10
2025
11:23
Social media platform no longer offers a meaningful environment for fact-based communication by academic, research and scientific institutions
51 Frankfurt and numerous other German universities withdraw from “X”
FRANKFURT. 51 has joined more than 60 other German-speaking universities, science and research institutions, who, in response to developments on the social media platform, have together decided to discontinue their activities on X (formerly Twitter). To engage in meaningful communication, such institutions require an environment in which discourse takes place in a fact-oriented, transparent and democratic manner, with respect for diversity, freedom and openmindedness. The only way for them to contribute to such discourse is if the platform mechanisms allow it. This is no longer the case on X.
Since being taken over by Elon Musk, not only have X's reach and interaction rate seen a steady decline. The platform’s algorithm has also been manipulated to favor content that corresponds to its owner's worldview. X has evolved from a place of constructive exchange into a tool used for disinformation. Studies and observations document that the platform deliberately discriminates against democratic voices. Evidence of meddling in democratic processes in the USA gives rise to fears of similar developments in Europe. These and other changes make X’s continued use unacceptable for institutions committed to fact-based knowledge and democratic values.
Scientific, factual and fact-based communication does not have it easy on other social networks either; dealing with their mechanisms in a meaningful way poses a daily challenge for anyone involved in science communication. However, whereas on LinkedIn or Instagram, for example, they can counteract this with well-founded, fact-based content, at X, the owner’s corporate policy is aimed precisely at making such content invisible.
51 recommends that all its faculties, affiliated institutes and facilities, as well as the researchers and scientists employed by the university check whether they still consider an account on X to be useful. The social media team of the Office of PR and Communication, part of the University’s Executive Office, will be happy to advise you both on this and/or in the search for alternatives. The university itself operates accounts on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube, and is examining whether a presence on other platforms such as Bluesky, Mastodon or Threads makes sense.
The universities involved in this coordinated exit will leave their X accounts in a “frozen” state – i.e. without active content, but still visible, also in order to prevent the misuse of their account names by third parties.
The universities know of many scientific and science-related organizations that are currently considering similar steps and would be pleased if others followed their example.
The following universities and institutions of higher learning are part of the joint campaign:
• Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
• Anhalt University
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT)
• Berlin University of the Arts
• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus – Senftenberg
• Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia (katho)
• Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
• Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
• Fachhochschule Dortmund
• FernUniversität in Hagen
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Furtwangen University
• German Ornithologists’ Society
• German Sport University Cologne
• University of Music and Drama
• HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
• Heidelberg University
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
• Hochschule Darmstadt
• Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen (HfWU)
• Hochschule München
• Hochschule Neubrandenburg
• Hochschule Osnabrück
• Hochschule RheinMain
• Hochschule Ruhr West
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Institut für Vogelforschung "Vogelwarte Helgoland"
• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Justus-Liebig-Gesellschaft
• Justus Liebig University Giessen
• Kiel University (CAU)
• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research
• Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
• Medical University Innsbruck
• Munich School of Philosophy
• Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Protestant University Wuppertal
• RWTH Aachen University
• Saarland University
• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Technical University of Darmstadt
• TH Köln
• Trier University
• TUD Dresden University of Technology
• Ulm University
• University of Bamberg
• University of Bayreuth
• Universität Duisburg-Essen
• University of Erfurt
• University of Greifswald
• University of Innsbruck
• University of Münster
• University of Potsdam
• University of Siegen
• Universität Würzburg
• Universität zu Lübeck
• Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau
The joint press release issued by all participating universities/institutions is available here in German: .
Editor: Volker Schmidt, Head of PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel.: +49 (0)69/798-13035, v.schmidt@em.uni-frankfurt.de