Get in Shape in the Team Research: Porukalla Kuntoon Tutkimus
Condition: Aging; Muscle Strength
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      It is well accepted that physical activity in the form of resistance training produces a wide
      variety of neuromuscular-skeletal and health benefits. It is recommended in Finland that
      older individuals (over 65yr) should perform resistance training twice per week.

      Unfortunately, only approx. 5% of older individuals fulfill this recommendation. As Finnish
      society grows ever older, research should focus on the specific needs of this group and how
      to improve participation in physical activity, which may ultimately lead to modification of
      physical activity recommendations - resistance training recommendations are currently the
      same for young and older adults and do not include specific recommendations on the type of
      resistance training. However, these recommendations appear to have been developed for "best
      possible" improvements in maximum strength and muscle size.

      Therefore, it is of great importance to identify the number of resistance training sessions
      per week required to induce improvements in physical fitness, metabolic and bone health
      status, and importantly the reasons for adherence to/drop-out of resistance training
      interventions (e.g. motivation to train) in a multi-discipline study. This knowledge would
      benefit policy makers to update current recommendations for resistance training and to devise
      strategies to advise realistic targets for resistance training in the older, particularly the
      less-educated, age group (e.g. TELI-strategy for 2020).

      The present study will include a 12-month resistance training intervention with a 12-month
      follow-up period. Interviews and questionnaires will assess psychological/sociological data
      and will be collected from both drop-out subjects and those that complete the intervention.
      Neuromuscular performance and functional capacity will be tested using conventional methods,
      along with body composition, bone density, and blood tests for metabolic markers of health.
      Diet and other physical activity will be controlled throughout the intervention period.
      Measurements are to be performed every 3 months.

      It is expected that 5 international peer-reviewed articles will be published in 2016-2017.
      The data will be presented at international and national conferences in 2015-2017. Finally,
      results of the entire research will be published in national peer-reviewed journals (e.g. The
      Age Institute's "Raportteja"). All subjects will be invited to attend an information meeting
      where group results will be presented and explained.
    


Intervention name(s): Resistance training
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Whole-body resistance training in the University gym that is supervised by researchers.
Training once per week, Training twice per week, Training thrice per week.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: Aging; Sarcopenia; Resistance training; Strength; Muscle mass