Strength Training in Nonagenarians

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The Health Enhancing Strength Training in Nonagenarians (STRONG) is a randomised control trial to assess the effectiveness of an aerobic and strength training program for improving functional capacity and quality of life in nonagenarians. Sixty (51 women) nonagenarians (age range: 90-102 years) who live in a geriatric nursing home will be randomly assigned to either a usual care (control) group (n=30) or an intervention (training) group (n=30). Participants allocated in the usual care group will receive general physical activity guidelines and participants allocated in the intervention group will also enroll in three weekly non-consecutive individualized training sessions ( 45-50 min each) during 8 weeks. The exercise program will consist of muscular strength [with a special focus on leg press at 30% (start of the program) to 70% 1 repetition maximum (end)] and aerobic exercises (cycle-ergometry during 3-5 to 15 minutes at 12-14 points in the rate of perceived exertion scale). Results from STRONG will help to better understand the potential of regular physical activity for improving the well-being of the oldest population groups.

Official Title
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Health Enhancing Strength Training in Nonagenarians

Conditions
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Elderly

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: 8-week aerobic and strength training program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age: 90 years or over. Planning to stay in the same nursing home during the study. Able to ambulate, with or without assistance. Able to communicate. Informed consent: Must be capable and willing to provide consent. Exclusion Criteria: Acute or terminal illness. Myocardial infarction in the past 3 months. Not capable to ambulate. Unstable cardiovascular disease or other medical condition. Upper or lower extremity fracture in the past 3 months. Severe dementia. Unwillingness to either complete the study requirements or to be randomised into control or training group. Presence of neuromuscular disease or drugs affecting neuromuscular function.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 90 Years
Maximum Age: 110 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 2<br>The experimental group will participate in the aerobic and strength training program. | Behavioral: 8-week aerobic and strength training program<br>* Participants allocated in the intervention group will be enrolled in three weekly non-consecutive training sessions for 8 weeks. Each session will last for about 45-50 min. The exercise program will consist of muscular strength and aerobic exercises. Each session will start and end with a low intensity  5-7 min warm-up and cool-down period respectively, consisting mainly of stretching exercises involving all major muscle groups.<br>|
| No Intervention: 1<br>The usual care group will receive general physical activity guidelines. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Functional capacity and quality of life |  | August 2009 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depressive symptoms, falls and body composition |  | August 2009 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Functional capacity, Quality of life, Depression, Falls, Body composition, Physical activity