MedPath

Resistance Exercise to Improve Flu Vaccine for Older Adults

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Influenza, Human
Interventions
Behavioral: Exercise
Registration Number
NCT03736759
Lead Sponsor
University of Houston
Brief Summary

This study evaluates whether resistance exercise will improve immune responses to the seasonal influenza vaccine in older adults. One third of the participants will perform exercise in the arm that receives the vaccine, one third of the participants will perform the same exercise in the arm that does not receive the vaccine, and one third will only receive the vaccine.

Detailed Description

Resistance exercise, particularly novel eccentric exercise, recruits immune cells to the targeted muscle. The exercises selected here targets the deltoid and biceps brachii muscles-those same muscles that the flu vaccine is delivered to during typical vaccination.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
29
Inclusion Criteria
  • non-frail older adult (≥65 years old) of any sex and race/ethnicity
  • non-smokers (>10 yrs)
  • meets American College of Sports Medicine criteria for participation in exercise
  • US resident
Exclusion Criteria
  • underlying medical problems that contraindicate supervised resistance exercise
  • past or present history of autoimmune disease, HIV, hepatitis, stroke, or cardiovascular disease
  • current debilitating arthritis of the shoulder
  • central or peripheral nervous disorders
  • bedridden in the past three months
  • history of vaccine-related allergies, or severe egg allergy;
  • physician-confirmed influenza infection in the prior year
  • regular user of corticosteroids
  • functional or cognitive impairment that would limit exercise performance or prohibit informed consent
  • blood pressure greater than 160/90
  • participation in resistance arm exercises in the prior 6 months

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Exercise and vaccine in same armExercise20 min eccentric resistance exercise of deltoid and biceps brachii in non-dominant arm, followed immediately by intramuscular injection of seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine in non-dominant arm
Exercise and vaccine in different armsExercise20 min eccentric resistance exercise of deltoid and biceps brachii in dominant arm, followed immediately by intramuscular injection of seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine in non-dominant arm
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cell mediated immunity change at 6 weeks post-vaccinebaseline and 6 weeks

The change in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell response to overnight ex vivo culture with the seasonal quadrivalent vaccine detected via Interferon-gamma ELISPOT will be calculated from baseline at 6 weeks post-vaccine

Antibody titer change at 6 weeks post-vaccinebaseline and 6 weeks

The change in influenza-specific antibody titers in serum measured by hemagglutination inhibition assay will be calculated from baseline at 6 weeks post-vaccine

Antibody titer change at 6 months post-vaccinebaseline and 6 months

The change in influenza-specific antibody titers in serum measured by hemagglutination inhibition assay will be calculated from baseline at 6 months post-vaccine

Cell mediated immunity change at 6 months post-vaccinebaseline and 6 months

The change in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell response to overnight ex vivo culture with the seasonal quadrivalent vaccine detected via Interferon-gamma ELISPOT will be calculated from baseline at 6 months post-vaccine

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Influenza-like symptomsMeasured monthly for six months

Self-report symptoms of influenza infection, guided by an influenza self-screening questionnaire( modified from University of California Davis Student Health and Counseling Service influenza self-screening questionnaire)

Muscle soreness7 days

Self-reported pain in upper arm shoulder/ region of both arms collected once daily for 7 days after vaccination. Item will be scored 0-10 (0= no pain; 10= worst possible pain).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Houston

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath