Clinical trial NCT06838481: Effects of Overload Eccentric and Concentric Resistance Training on the Cost of Walking, Muscle-tendon and Jumping Performance in Healthy Older Individuals
Official title: Effects of Overload Eccentric and Concentric Resistance Training on the Cost of Walking, Muscle-tendon and Jumping Performance in Healthy Older Individuals
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy Older Adults
Keywords: Resistance training
cost of walking
cost of transfer
balance
countermovement jump
SSC
Lead sponsor: Hungarian University of Sports Science
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Semmelweis University
First posted: 2025-02-20
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Cross-Sectional Component:

Purpose: To assess baseline muscle-tendon function, metabolic function, and other relevant measures in older adults.

Design: Observational, providing a snapshot of the participants' characteristics before the intervention.

Longitudinal Intervention Component:

Purpose: To examine the effects of different training interventions over time and assess retention effects.

Design: A three-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre- and post-intervention assessments.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Normal aging leads to a decline in neuromuscular and mobility functions, including a 60% reduction in maximal voluntary force production, a 25% decrease in muscle volume and quality (sarcopenia), and reduced tendon stiffness by age 70. These changes impair walking speed, balance, and increase the metabolic cost of walking by \~20% in older adults compared to younger individuals. While walking training can reduce metabolic costs, no interventions have successfully addressed the 20% age-related difference. Resistance training, particularly eccentric (muscle-lengthening) training, shows promise for improving muscle strength and mass, but its effects on functional, cognitive abilities, and walking economy in older adults remain unexplored.

Detailed description: Normal aging is characterized by a decline in neuromuscular and mobility functions. By the age of 70, maximal voluntary force production decreases by approximately 60%, accompanied by a \~25% reduction in muscle volume and quality, leading to sarcopenia. Alongside changes in muscle protein content, composition, and mitochondrial biochemistry, aging also affects tendon properties. While healthy aging does not significantly alter tendon size, it reduces tendon stiffness, which can delay force transmission. These changes in muscle-tendon function contribute to slower walking speeds and impaired static and dynamic balance.

One of the most significant functional changes with aging is the increased metabolic cost of walking. Older individuals require \~20% more metabolic energy to walk the same distance as younger adults, yet the underlying reasons remain unclear. While walking training has been shown to reduce metabolic costs in older adults, no studies have attempted to reduce this 20% age-related difference using alternative interventions.

Resistance training induces adaptations in muscle-tendon function by requiring participants to overcome external loads. Traditional resistance training combines concentric (muscle shortening) and eccentric (muscle lengthening) contractions, but eccentric training has received increasing attention due to its superior benefits in muscle strength and mass improvement. However, no studies have examined how resistance training, particularly with an eccentric focus, impacts functional and cognitive abilities or walking economy in older adults.

Objectives:

This study aims to:

1. Investigate the effects of resistance training, particularly eccentric-focused training, on muscle-tendon function and walking economy in older adults.
2. Examine whether these changes translate into improved neuromuscular and cognitive functions.
3. Determine if improved tendon stiffness leads to more efficient force transmission, reducing walking energy expenditure.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* • Healthy men and women aged 60+ (intervention study).

  * No significant cognitive or cardiovascular impairments.

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Acute injuries or history of severe tendon injuries (Achilles or patellar tendon rupture).

  * Tendinopathy or chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
  * Hypertension, unless controlled with medication.
  * Neurological or psychiatric disorders (dementia, mild cognitive impairment).
  * Metabolic diseases affecting muscle/tendon function,

Primary outcomes:
measure: Walking metabolic cost
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Maximum isometric voluntary contraction
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
measure: Patella and Achilles tendon stiffness
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
measure: Vastus lateralis and Gastrocnemius muscle thickness & tendon thickness
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
measure: Whole leg muscle mass
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
measure: Jump efficiency
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
measure: Cognitive Assessments
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 year
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Budapest XII.
country: Hungary
facility: Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, Hungary
state: Budapest
Study officials:
affiliation: Hungarian University of Sports Science, Department of Kinesioogy, Budapest, Hungary
name: Prof. DR. Tibor Hortobágyi Hortobágyi
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
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