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Reducing Falls With Progressive Resistance Training for the Oldest Old Adults With Sarcopenia

Not Applicable
Conditions
Sarcopenia
Aging
Interventions
Behavioral: High-intensity progressive resistance training
Other: General practitioner care
Registration Number
NCT05691166
Lead Sponsor
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Brief Summary

This study will investigate the effects of 12 months of high-intensity progressive resistance training compared with a control group on fall-rate in older adults with sarcopenia.

Detailed Description

Despite the wealth of theoretical benefits, existing literature on resistance training for falls prevention is not conclusive, given the sub-optimal resistance training paradigms, poor study quality, and use of multimodal training interventions, precluding isolation of the resistance training benefits. It is also possible that resistance training benefits for falls reduction will be most evident in those with sarcopenia to begin with as a risk factor for their falls. We will therefore conduct a randomised, controlled trial assessing the effects of resistance training reduce falls in the oldest old adults with sarcopenia, as well as to increase strength and muscle mass.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
240
Inclusion Criteria
  • Aged 80 years or older
  • Low muscular strength (grip strength: <39.6 kg for males and <21.8 kg for females or chair stand >15 seconds)
  • Community-dwelling incl. independent senior housing
  • Ambulatory without supervision or physical assistance from another person. Assistive devices such as canes/crutches/walkers allowed.
  • Able to see and hear sufficiently to undertake assessments and partake in the planned exercise training.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pre-existing diagnosis of dementia
  • Moderate or severe cognitive impairment (score <18 on the Mini-Mental State Examination)
  • Living in institutional care
  • Non-ambulatory or requiring person or wheelchair to assist when walking
  • Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease/disorder significantly influencing gait and mobility (e.g. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS] and Parkinson's disease).
  • Amputation (other than toes)
  • Contraindications to resistance training
  • Unstable fracture
  • Inability to comply with study requirements
  • Currently undertaking progressive resistance training

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Progressive resistance trainingHigh-intensity progressive resistance trainingTwice weekly high-intensity progressive resistance training for 12 months
ControlGeneral practitioner careReferred to general practitioner
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Falls12 months

Relative risk for falls, fall rate per person years. Self-report.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Nutritional status6 and 12 months

Nutritional status assessed using the Mini-nutritional Assessment Short form.

Depression6 and 12 months

Levels of depression measured via the Geriatric Depression Scale.

Falls6 and 12 months

Number of falls, number of fallers/nonfallers/frequent fallers, and time to first fall. Self-report.

Balance6 and 12 months

Static and dynamic balance using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and a 3-m tandem walk

Fall-related injuries6 and 12 months

Classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision, classification system. Peripheral fracture rate per person-years, number of peripheral fractures, number of people sustaining peripheral fractures, and number of people sustaining multiple events. Collected via self-report and ascertained by linkage to the Norwegian Patient Registry and medical journals with the use of unique 11-digit Norwegian national identification number for each participant.

Orthostatic blood pressure6 and 12 months

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure response 1, and 3-min after standing up

Dynamic muscular strength6 and 12 months

1-repetition maximum leg press and leg extension

Muscular power6 and 12 months

Muscular power assessed using a force platform installed on a leg press machine

Stature6 and 12 months

Stretch stature using a wall-mounted stadiometer

Cognitive function6 and 12 months

Cognitive function evaluated using The Mini Mental State Examination

Falls requiring medical attention6 and 12 months

Number of falls requiring medical attention. Collected via self-report and ascertained by linkage to the Norwegian Patient Registry and medical journals with the use of unique 11-digit Norwegian national identification number for each participant.

Grip strength6 and 12 months

Maximal isometric handgrip strength

Physical performance6 and 12 months

Physical performance using the Short Physical Performance Battery

Body mass6 and 12 months

Body mass estimated using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis

Body composition6 and 12 months

Estimated using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Fat mass, skeletal muscle mss, appendicular skeletal muscle mass.

Physical activity6 and 12 months

Self-reported physical activity levels

Health-related quality of life6 and 12 months

Health-related quality of life assessed using the 12-item Short-form health survey

Gait characteristics6 and 12 months

Gait characteristics during a 4-m walk on the GAITrite electronic gait mat

Resting blood pressure and resting heart rate6 and 12 months

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate measured after 5 minutes of seated resting using an automated blood pressure device

Fear of falling6 and 12 months

Fear of falling assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International

Use of primary health care, community care, and assistive technology12 months

Use of primary health care (general practitioner, emergency room, physiotherapist, and chiropractor), community care, and assistive technology during the study will be collected by linkage to the Norwegian Municipal Patient and User Register (KPR) database with the use of a unique 11-digit Norwegian national identification number for each participant.

Use of prescription drugs12 months

Use of prescription drugs during the study will be collected by linkage to the Norwegian Prescribed Drug Registry with the use of a unique 11-digit Norwegian national identification number for each participant.

Circumferences6 and 12 months

Waist, arm, and calf circumference

Hospital admissions12 months

Information about hospitalisations due to falls and fall-related injuries will be collected by means of electronic linkage to the Norwegian Patient Registry and medical journals with the use of a unique 11-digit Norwegian national identification number for each participant.

Frailty6 and 12 months

Physical frailty assessed according to Fried's frailty phenotype

Sleep quality6 and 12 months

Sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging

🇳🇴

Trondheim, Norway

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