Boxing, Taekwondo and Elastic Band Training on Body Composition and Physical Performance in Older Women

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Older People; Sports; Martial Arts

• Registration Number: NCT06780020
• Lead Sponsor: Universidad Católica del Maule

Brief Summary

The objective of this clinical trial is to compare the effect of three physical interventions (Taekwondo, Boxing, and Elastic Band Training) on body composition and physical performance in older Chilean women. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

How do Taekwondo, Boxing, and Elastic Band Training affect body composition (body fat percentage and fat-free mass)?

What improvements are observed in physical performance (grip strength, balance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) with each intervention?

Researchers will compare the effects of these three interventions to determine which offers the greatest benefits for body composition and physical performance.

Participants will:

Perform Taekwondo, Boxing, or Elastic Band Training twice a week for 8 weeks. Be assessed for morphological and physical performance variables before and after the intervention period.

Participate in supervised training sessions at local sports centers. This study aims to provide solid evidence on the efficacy of different physical interventions in improving the physical health of older women, helping to define more effective and accessible training strategies.

Detailed Description

Study Design In this study there is a randomized controlled trial, repeated measures, double-blinded participants and evaluators, and a quantitative approach for three parallel groups: BOX group, TKD group and EBT group. The randomization process was performed using the research randomizer website (https://www.randomizer.org, accessed March 1, 2023). CONSORT standards were used as the methodology. In addition, the protocol has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov in the United States (code: ). The duration of the interventions was 8 weeks (16 sessions), including two weekly sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays of sixty minutes each. Morphological variables (BMI, body fat percentage and fat-free mass), and functional performance, MIHS dominant and non-dominant hand, 30-second chair stand, TUG, sit and reach, back scratch and 2-minute walk were evaluated. Each measurement was performed at the same place (sports center and social headquarters) and in the afternoon, from 14:00 to 16:00, with the factors under control, including temperature, and the evaluators performing the pre- and post-measurements. With no musculoskeletal and/or cardiorespiratory injuries during the intervention, the older women showed no pain before the evaluations or during the training sessions.

Participants Sixty-three older women participated in the intervention at first. The optimal number of participants per group, according to the sample size calculation, was 10. Statistical power was calculated with the program GPower (version 3.1.9.6, Franz Faul, UniversiätKiel, Kiel, Germany). According to a previous study, the minimum difference necessary for significant clinical relevance was determined to be a mean difference of 0.50 s in the TUG, with a standarddeviation of 0.93 s, taking into account an alpha level of 0.05 with a power of 95% and a predicted loss of 10%. The inclusion requirements were: (i) women between 60 and 65 years of age; (ii) who demonstrated the ability to understand and execute instructions in a contextualized manner through basic directives; (iii) who were independent, according to a score of at least 43 points on the Chilean Ministry of Health's Preventive Medicine Examination for Older Adults; and (iv) who met the requirement of attendance at the intervention of at least 85%. In relation to the exclusion criteria, the following were taken into account (i) having a disability; (ii) undergoing physical rehabilitation or having musculoskeletal injuries that prevent them from performing their usual physical activities; and (iii) being permanently or temporarily unable to participate in physical activities. As for exclusion criteria, the following were taken into account: (i) suffering from a disability of any type; (ii) suffering from a musculoskeletal injury or receiving physical rehabilitation therapy that prevents them from performing their usual physical activity; and (iii) being unable to perform physical activity, either temporarily or permanently. To be included in the final analysis, participants who met the inclusion criteria also had to complete at least 85% of the training sessions and attend all evaluation sessions. The inclusion criteria are summarized in Figure 1.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-04-04
• Primary Completion: 2024-10-07
• Study Completion: 2024-12-05
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-15
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-15
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-17
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• women between 60 and 65 years of age
• who demonstrated the ability to understand and execute instructions in a contextualized manner through basic directives
• who were independent, according to a score of at least 43 points on the Chilean Ministry of Health's Preventive Medicine Examination for Older Adults
• who met the requirement of attendance at the intervention of at least 85%.

Exclusion Criteria

• having a disability
• undergoing physical rehabilitation or having musculoskeletal injuries that prevent them from performing their usual physical activities.
• being permanently or temporarily unable to participate in physical activities.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Bipedal height	8 weeks	Bipedal height was measured using a stadiometer (Seca model 220, SECA, Hamburg,Germany; accuracy to 0.1 cm).
Body weight	8 weeks	body weight was calculated using a mechanical scale(Scale-tronix, Chicago, IL, USA; accuracy to 0.1 kg) while wearing the barest minimum of clothing.
Thirty-Second Chair Stand (30-s chair stand)	8 weeks	The 30-s chair stand test counts the number of repetitions performed while sitting on the chair, with arms resting on the chest, for thirty seconds. It was designed to assess the muscular strength of the lower limbs. After three attempts with a recovery of 120 s between each, the best of the three efforts was attained.
Timed Up-and-Go (TUG)	8 weeks	The TUG test was carried out in accordance with previous recommendations. The person must get out of an arm-supported chair, travel a 3-m hallway, turn around, and return to the chair. They must swiftly record the best of three trials after completing them. Two assessors recorded the time using single-beam photocells (Brower Timing System, Draper, UT, USA); the best three attempts were statistically analyzed.
Sit-and-Reach Test	8 weeks	Utilizing the sit-and-reach test, flexibility was assessed. Subjects were seated forward in a chair with a fixed back, one leg bent on the floor and the other left straight. The left or right leg may be used to run comfortably; however, the post-test measured the same leg as the pre-test. After correcting the position once again, the case of another bent leg evaluates flexibility by executing two attempts using the higher number to determine the result.
Back scratch	8 weeks	For the Back Scratch Test, the participant placed one hand on the shoulder and one hand towards the middle of the back maintaining the position. The evaluator measured the amount of cm (+ or -) between the extended ring fingers of both hands.
2-min Step Test	8 weeks	Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using the 2-min step test. Participants were instructed to stand straight, and the middle distance between the patella and pelvic bones was marked on a wall with colored tape. Participants stepped in a manner where their knees were raised above the marked spot, and the number of repetitions within 2 min was recorded.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidad Católica del Maule; 🇨🇱 Talca, Maule, Chile