The Effect of Aging and Immobilisation on Muscle

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The debilitating effects of immobilisation on muscle strength and size in young individuals are well documented. Moreover, sarcopenia has long been recognized as a major cause of muscle strength loss in old age, however, changes in muscle mass and architecture with immobilisation in the elderly has not previously been investigated. This is contrasted by the fact that the elderly population more often undergoes periods of immobilization and disuse not only due to joint pain but also due to a higher degree of co morbidity and hospitalisation.The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of a 2 week period of unilateral immobilisation on the physiological muscle cross sectional area, maximal isometric muscle strength, specific force, muscle fascicle length and muscle fibre pennation angle in young and old healthy men.

Official Title
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The Effect of Aging and Immobilisation on Muscle

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: 2 weeks of unilateral immobilisation and 4 weeks of resistance training
* Other: 2 weeks of unilateral immobilisation and 4 weeks of resistance training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Young healthy males (age 20-30 yrs)or old healthy males (age 60-80 yrs) Exclusion Criteria: Musculoskeletal disorder Diabetes Cardiovascular disease Neurological diseases; or Cognitive disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>9 healthy elderly males | Other: 2 weeks of unilateral immobilisation and 4 weeks of resistance training<br>* 2 weeks of whole leg casting (side randomized)followed by 4 weeks of unilateral resistance training. The non-imm side served as a within-subject control<br>|
| Experimental: 2<br>11 healthy young males | Other: 2 weeks of unilateral immobilisation and 4 weeks of resistance training<br>* 2 weeks of unilateral whole leg casting (side randomized)followed by 4 weeks of unilateral resistance training. The non-imm side served as a within-subject control<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| muscle cross sectional area, maximal isometric muscle strength, specific force, muscle fascicle length and muscle fibre pennation |  | 2 weeks of immobilisation and 4 weeks of resistance training | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| single muscle fiber area, expression of myostatin and IGF-1 (RNA), changes in satellite activation and number |  | 2 weeks of imm and 4 weeks of resistance training | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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immobilisation, aging, resistance training, atrophy, The effect of immobilisation in elderly compared to young individuals