Muscle Capillarization and Sarcopenia
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia
- Interventions
- Other: Aerobic exercise trainingOther: Strength training
- Registration Number
- NCT03984994
- Lead Sponsor
- Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Brief Summary
Aging is associated with a loss of muscle mass, termed sarcopenia, that reduces mobility, decreases physical function and accelerates progression of other age-related disorders. This study is designed to determine whether increasing skeletal muscle capillarization through aerobic exercise will enhance muscular adaptations to strength training in older adults with sarcopenia.
- Detailed Description
Sarcopenia, or the aging-related loss of muscle mass, affects a large number of older adults. The presence of sarcopenia is associated with physical disability, poor quality of life, and all-cause mortality, in part because sarcopenic adults have low muscle skeletal muscle capillarization and may lack the adequate perfusion needed to maintain muscle mass and function. This study will test the effects of increasing skeletal muscle capillarization through aerobic exercise training on responses to resistance training in older adults. Eligible participants will be randomized to one of two groups, resistance training preceded by aerobic exercise training (AEX-RT), or resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training (RT-AEX). Participants in the AEX-RT group will undergo 3 months of aerobic exercise training to increase skeletal muscle capillarization, followed by 3 months of resistance training. Participants in the RT-AEX group will undergo 3 months of resistance training, followed by 3 months of aerobic exercise training. Before and after the interventions, participants will undergo assessments of muscle size, strength, and capillarization, as well as assessments of physical function.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 32
- Body Mass Index = 18-32.5 kg/m2
- Non-smoker
- Presence of at least moderate sarcopenia (low muscle mass per unit body height)
- Diagnosis of diabetes, cancer, pulmonary or renal disease
- Physical impairment preventing exercise
- Recent history of exercise training
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Aerobic exercise training followed by resistance training Strength training Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of aerobic exercise training, followed by 3 months of strength training Resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training Strength training Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of strength training, followed by 3 months of aerobic exercise training Aerobic exercise training followed by resistance training Aerobic exercise training Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of aerobic exercise training, followed by 3 months of strength training Resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training Aerobic exercise training Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of strength training, followed by 3 months of aerobic exercise training
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Skeletal muscle capillarization 6 months Change in the number of capillaries per unit of skeletal muscle tissue
Muscle volume 6 months Change in the size of the thigh muscles
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Muscle strength 6 months Change in the strength/force produced by skeletal muscles of the thigh
Skeletal muscle fiber size 6 months Change in the cross-sectional size of individual thigh skeletal muscle fibers
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
University of Maryland, Baltimore & Baltimore VA Medical Center
🇺🇸Baltimore, Maryland, United States
University of Maryland
🇺🇸College Park, Maryland, United States