Minimum Resistance Training Frequency: Effect on Motivation and Adherence to Train, Overall Health Status and Neuromuscular Performance
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Jyvaskyla
- Enrollment
- 105
- Primary Endpoint
- Force production (Isometric and dynamic maximum strength tests of lower limbs)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
It is well accepted that physical activity in the form of resistance training produces a wide variety of neuromuscular-skeletal and health benefits. It is recommended in Finland that older individuals (over 65yr) should perform resistance training twice per week.
Unfortunately, only approx. 5% of older individuals fulfill this recommendation. As Finnish society grows ever older, research should focus on the specific needs of this group and how to improve participation in physical activity, which may ultimately lead to modification of physical activity recommendations - resistance training recommendations are currently the same for young and older adults and do not include specific recommendations on the type of resistance training. However, these recommendations appear to have been developed for "best possible" improvements in maximum strength and muscle size.
Therefore, it is of great importance to identify the number of resistance training sessions per week required to induce improvements in physical fitness, metabolic and bone health status, and importantly the reasons for adherence to/drop-out of resistance training interventions (e.g. motivation to train) in a multi-discipline study. This knowledge would benefit policy makers to update current recommendations for resistance training and to devise strategies to advise realistic targets for resistance training in the older, particularly the less-educated, age group (e.g. TELI-strategy for 2020).
The present study will include a 12-month resistance training intervention with a 12-month follow-up period. Interviews and questionnaires will assess psychological/sociological data and will be collected from both drop-out subjects and those that complete the intervention. Neuromuscular performance and functional capacity will be tested using conventional methods, along with body composition, bone density, and blood tests for metabolic markers of health. Diet and other physical activity will be controlled throughout the intervention period. Measurements are to be performed every 3 months.
It is expected that 5 international peer-reviewed articles will be published in 2016-2017. The data will be presented at international and national conferences in 2015-2017. Finally, results of the entire research will be published in national peer-reviewed journals (e.g. The Age Institute's "Raportteja"). All subjects will be invited to attend an information meeting where group results will be presented and explained.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to 75 Years (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Does not smoke
- •Able to perform all tests and exercises
- •Free from episodes during physical activity
Exclusion Criteria
- •Use of waling aids
- •Previous testosterone-altering treatment, e.g. in cancer treatment or hypogonadism
- •Serious cardiovascular disease that may lead to complications during exercise
- •Use of pharmaceuticals that affect neuromuscular or endocrine systems
- •Regular endurance training>3hr per week
- •Resistance training experience
Arms & Interventions
Training once per week
Subjects train once per week in the University gym. All training sessions are supervised by the researchers.
Intervention: Resistance training (Behavioral)
Training twice per week
Subjects train twice per week in the University gym. All training sessions are supervised by the researchers.
Intervention: Resistance training (Behavioral)
Thrice per week
Subjects train three times per week in the University gym. All training sessions are supervised by the researchers.
Intervention: Resistance training (Behavioral)
Non-training Control group
Subjects continue with their normal daily lives, just performing measurements
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Force production (Isometric and dynamic maximum strength tests of lower limbs)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 3, 9 and 15 months with data presented at 24 months post-initiation
Isometric and dynamic maximum strength tests of lower limbs
Muscle hypertrophy (Cross-sectional area of quadriceps and triceps surae muscles)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 3, 9 and 15 months with data presented at 24 months post-initiation
Cross-sectional area of quadriceps and triceps surae muscles
Secondary Outcomes
- Oral glucose tolerance test(Change from baseline at 3, 9 and 15 months with data presented at 24 months post-initiation)
- Blood count(Change from baseline at 3, 9 and 15 months with data presented at 24 months post-initiation)
- Basal hormone concentrations(Change from baseline at 3, 9 and 15 months with data presented at 24 months post-initiation)
- Body composition (DXA scanning)(Change from baseline at 3, 9 and 15 months with data presented at 24 months post-initiation)
Investigators
Simon Walker
Post-doctoral researcher
University of Jyvaskyla