Clinical trial NCT03724461: Effects of Resistance Training With High vs. Light-moderate Loads on Muscle-tendon Function in the Elderly
Official title: Effects of Resistance Training With High vs. Light-moderate Loads on Muscle-tendon Function in the Elderly
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Aging
Sarcopenia
Frail Elderly Syndrome
Keywords: resistance training
sarcopenia
hypertrophy
tendon
frailty
ageing
Lead sponsor: University of Castilla-La Mancha
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain
name: Biomedical Research Networking Center on Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES)
First posted: 2018-10-30
Enrollment: 55
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 65
Standard ages: OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: There are no unbiased studies that have analyzed the effects of resistance training with traditional, heavy versus light-moderate loads on muscle, tendon and bone in elderly people.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the effects on muscle mass and function, tendon and bone of two different training intensities, light-moderate vs. heavy load, in people older than 65 years old.

The study will be carried out with a randomized controlled design. Participants will perform single training sessions and a 12-wk dynamic resistance training program on the knee extensors with different training intensities on each leg. One leg will train with heavy loads and the other one will train with light-moderate loads, but matching the load x repetitions performed by the contralateral side.

Detailed description: The decline in muscle function provoked by the aging process and frailty are directly related to decreases in mobility and the ability to perform the so called "daily life activities". Resistance training is especially useful at this stage, given that it is an effective and widely applicable intervention to control and revert sarcopenia, and the deterioration of tendon and bone function. Despite of the effectiveness of heavy load resistance training, a controversy has arisen in the last years about the effects of lower load resistance training programs to achieve similar adaptations. This is because most of the studies that have compared light-moderate versus heavy load programs did not control the differences in total training load, measured as the overall mechanical work performed during the training program. Therefore, there are no unbiased studies that have analyzed the effects of resistance training with traditional, heavy versus light-moderate loads on muscle, tendon and bone in elderly people.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the effects on muscle mass and function, tendon and bone of two different training intensities, light-moderate vs. heavy load, in people older than 65 years old.

The studies will be carried out with a crossover (acute training sessions) and randomized controlled design (longitudinal training intervention). Participants will perform single training sessions with each resistance training intensity and a 12-wk dynamic resistance training program on the knee extensors with different training intensities on each leg. One leg will train with heavy loads and the other one will train with light-moderate loads, but matching the load x repetitions performed by the contralateral side. Muscle adaptations (EMG, muscle size and architecture), tendon mechanical properties, bone mineral density, blood parameters and life quality will be analyzed before and after the cessation of the training program.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 65 years and older,
* non-institutionalized
* passed physical examination including physical function assessment (no frailty status; SPPB \>7 points)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Neurological, musculoskeletal, or other disorder that would preclude completing resistance training and all performance tests
* Uncontrolled hypertension, unstable or exercise-induced angina pectoris or myocardial ischemia or any other medical condition that would interfere with testing or increase one's risk of complications during exercise.
* History of regular resistance exercise during the previous 3 years
* Knee prosthesis

Primary outcomes:
measure: Acute change in muscle size (cross sectional area, cm2)
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Change in muscle size (cross sectional area, cm2)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Acute change in muscle function (N)
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Change in muscle function (N)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in patellar tendon stiffness (N/mm)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Acute change in patellar tendon stiffness (N/mm)
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Change in muscle mass (kg)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Change in bone mass (g)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Acute change in muscle excitation (mV)
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Change in muscle excitation (mV)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Change in physical function
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Blood analysis: Acute change in oxidative stress
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Blood analysis: Change in oxidative stress
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Blood analysis: Acute change in Inflammation
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session (Acute)
measure: Blood analysis: Change in inflammation
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Blood analysis: Acute change in anabolic processes
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Blood analysis: Change in anabolic processes
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
measure: Blood analysis: Acute change in catabolic processes
timeFrame: Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session
measure: Blood analysis: Change in catabolic processes
timeFrame: Change from baseline to week 12
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Toledo
country: Spain
facility: Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Laboratorio de Actividad Física y Función Muscular. Campus de la Fábrica de Armas. Avda. Carlos III s/n
Study officials:
affiliation: Associate Professor
name: Luis M. Alegre, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Rodriguez-Lopez C, Alcazar J, Losa-Reyna J, Martin-Espinosa NM, Baltasar-Fernandez I, Ara I, Csapo R, Alegre LM. Effects of Power-Oriented Resistance Training With Heavy vs. Light Loads on Muscle-Tendon Function in Older Adults: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Physiol. 2021 Feb 18;12:635094. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.635094. eCollection 2021.
citation: Rodriguez-Lopez C, Alcazar J, Sanchez-Martin C, Ara I, Csapo R, Alegre LM. Mechanical Characteristics of Heavy vs. Light Load Ballistic Resistance Training in Older Adults. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Aug 1;36(8):2094-2101. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003826. Epub 2020 Sep 16.