MedPath

Resistance Exercise Training at Different Intensities in Healthy and Frail Older People: A Feasibility Study

Not Applicable
Conditions
Frail Elderly Syndrome
Interventions
Other: resistance training
Registration Number
NCT03627793
Lead Sponsor
University of Glasgow
Brief Summary

After the age of 40-45 years muscle mass and function progressively decline, reducing older peoples' abilities to perform tasks of daily living and also increase the risk of falls. It is known that, across the life course, resistance exercise can be of benefit in increasing muscle mass and function, yet how hard the exercise should be performed has received little attention. Current recommendations are for older people to perform exercise at 70% of the maximum they can lift, quite a high intensity that often puts older people off participating. Recent evidence in younger people has suggested that such intensities are not required.

The investigators aim to determine the feasibility of a study to investigate recruitment and adherence of older people to a study of exercise training at different intensities.

Detailed Description

The cohort will comprise two sets of participants: frail older adults and non-frail older adults.

Each participant will receive 8 weeks of twice weekly supervised resistance training. Both the frail and non-frail participants will be randomised into either receiving high load resistance training or low load resistance training. High load resistance training will be delivered at 70% of the participants maximal capacity and low load resistance training will be delivered at 30% of maximal capacity. All resistance training will focus on the lower limb and regardless of intensity each exercise will be done to failure (unable to complete another full repetition).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria

Non-frail - Over 65 years of age Frail - Over 65 years of age, Three or more of the following criteria: >10lbs of weight loss unintentionally in previous year; grip strength in lowest 20% (by sex and BMI); self-reported exhaustion; walking time for 15 feet in slowest 20% (by sex and height); physical activity in the lowest 20%.

Exclusion Criteria

Non-frail - Current participation in an exercise programme. Clinical team do not think resistance exercise would be safe or unable to consent. Any other reason that precludes participation in exercise, decision made by research team in consultation with a consultant in Geriatric Medicine where required.

Frail - Current participation in an exercise programme. Clinical team do not think resistance exercise would be safe or unable to consent. Any other reason that precludes participation in exercise, decision made by research team in consultation with a consultant in Geriatric Medicine where required.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
High load non-frailresistance trainingNon-frail participants who will receive resistance training at 70% of their maximal strength
low load non-frailresistance trainingNon-frail participants who will receive resistance training at 30% of their maximal strength
high load frailresistance trainingFrail participants who will receive resistance training at 70% of their maximal strength
low load frailresistance trainingFrail participants who will receive resistance training at 30% of their maximal strength
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of training sessions attended8 weeks

Expressed as a percentage of number of sessions attended

Compliance with protocol8 weeks

Expressed as a percentage of number of sessions where training protocol was adhered to

Number of treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.08 weeks

Number of adverse events that could be attributed to the intervention

Acceptability of intervention (qualitative)8 weeks

focus groups with semi-structured discussion plans will investigate the acceptability of the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Muscle thickness8 weeks

Thickness of vastus lateralus using ultrasound (mm)

Muscle power8 weeks

Maximum voluntary contraction of a muscle at a set angle to produce a torque (kg)

Muscle strength8 weeks

Maximal load participant can lift (kg)

Frailty8 weeks

As measured by the Fried criteria. These are low energy expenditure, slow gait speed, weak grip strength, exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. Fulfilling three of these criteria indicates clinical frailty.

Quality of life8 weeks

Measured using the Euroqol EQ-5 Dimension- 5 Level self report measure. This scale measures quality of life in 5 dimensions and produces an index of quality of life rangin from a worst quality of life at -1 to best quality of life at 1.

Activities of daily living8 weeks

Measured using the Lawton ADL scale. this self report measures assess independence in daily living in 8 different domains but produces an overall score. Scores range from 0-8 with 8 indicating full independence.

Functional abilities8 weeks

Short performance battery test. This battery of tests assesses balance, gait speed and lower limb strength. Scores are awarded for each individual section and aggregated ranging from 0-12 with a higher score indicating greater physical capability.

motion analysis8 weeks

biomechanical assessment using infr-red motion analysis cameras

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

🇬🇧

Glasgow, United Kingdom

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath