Resistance Training to Optimize Health in Pre-frail Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Behavioral: Higher Intensity Resistance Training
Behavioral: Lower Intensity Resistance Training

Brief Summary: Exercise programs, particularly resistance training programs using weights or resistance bands, can help improve or maintain mobility and function in older adults, preserve independent living, and improve quality of life. This study will examine the safety and feasibility of a novel, higher intensity resistance training program in older adults, and compare the effects with standard care, lower intensity training. It is anticipated that both programs will be safe and feasible, but higher-intensity training will lead to greater improvements in quality of life, mobility and strength, which are part of the physical phenotype definition of frailty and markers of mobility disability.

Detailed Description: It is critically important to identify effective strategies to reduce the risk and impact of mobility disability and frailty in older adults. Exercise, particularly resistance training (RT), has the potential to influence a person's ability to navigate around their environment and impact the components of the frailty phenotype which include weakness, physical inactivity, and slowness. Higher training intensities have been used with athletes and younger adults to achieve greater gains in strength, but the feasibility and effectiveness is less established in older persons who exhibit preclinical disability, or are at-risk for mobility decline where conservative protocols are typically employed. Higher intensity RT may be an innovative and effective strategy in preclinical disability pre-frailty to reduce the risk and impact of future frailty and mobility decline.

This study aims to examine: 1) the safety and feasibility of a 12-week higher intensity RT protocol in community dwelling older adults at risk for mobility disability, and 2) the effects of this protocol on walking, balance, muscle strength, quality of life compared to lower intensity RT

It is hypothesized that the higher intensity RT: 1) is safe and feasible for at-risk community-dwelling older adults, 2) more effective in improving walking, balance, muscle strength, and quality of life than lower intensity RT

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

contraindications for intensive resistance training (e.g. recent cardiovascular event, fracture within the past 12 months)
musculoskeletal injuries for which intervention participants are receiving concomitant rehabilitation treatments

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Higher Intensity Resistance Training	Higher Intensity Resistance Training	Participants will take part in a 12-week higher-intensity resistance training protocol.
Lower Intensity Resistance Training	Lower Intensity Resistance Training	Participants will take part in a 12-week lower-intensity resistance training protocol that will serve as the active comparator.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Attendance rate	Entire duration of the intervention (12 weeks)
Attrition rate	Entire duration of the intervention (12 weeks)
Occurrence of adverse events	Entire duration of the intervention (12 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Short Physical Performance Battery	0, 12, 20 weeks
Activities-Specific Balance Confidence scale	0, 12, 20 weeks
Healthcare Utilization Questionnaires	0, 12, 20 weeks
EQ-5D-5L	0, 12, 20 weeks
Short Form-36	0, 12, 20 weeks
Timed Up and Go Test	0, 12, 20 weeks
Berg Balance Scale	0, 12, 20 weeks
Muscle strength	0, 12, 20 weeks
Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography analysis of muscle and bone quality	0, 12, 20 weeks
Caregiver Burden Interview Short Form	0, 12, 20 weeks

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