A Comparison Between Two Repetition Prescription Approaches in Resistance Training Delivered Via Videoconferencing to Untrained Young Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Tel Aviv University
- Enrollment
- 58
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change from baseline enjoyment score
Study Overview
Brief Summary
A randomized controlled trial comparing between two approaches of prescribing repetition-numbers in resistance training (RT) sessions on psychological, physiological, and performance outcomes. Sixty healthy and sedentary adults (age range: 18-45) will be randomly allocated to either the "predetermined" or "self-selected" groups. The groups will differ in the amount of choice they will be able to make concerning the resistance of each exercise and the number of repetitions they complete (see detailed description). Both groups will complete two sessions per week composed of body weight and resistance band exercises, lasting 45 minutes for eight weeks. The sessions will be delivered live by a certified instructor using a videoconferencing platform.
The primary aim of this study is:
Compare between the "predetermined" and the "self-selected" repetition prescription approaches on psychological, physiological, and performance outcomes in a cohort of 60 healthy and sedentary adults (age range: 18-45) over an eight-week period of live, videoconferencing RT sessions.
The secondary aim is:
Determine the influence of live, videoconferencing group RT sessions on psychological, physiological, and performance outcomes across groups.
Detailed Description
Background:
Providing trainees with more choices in exercise sessions is an autonomy supportive process which can lead to a more enjoyable experience, greater adherence to the training program and preferable performance outcomes. We will compare between two approaches to prescribing repetition-numbers in resistance training sessions- the "predetermined" and the "self-selected", based on the amount of choice trainees receive while training. Sixty healthy and sedentary adults (age range: 18-45) will train bi-weekly for 45 minutes using resistance bands in a live, videoconferencing group setting.
Intervention details:
The intervention will last eight weeks and include bi-weekly, 45-minute online sessions instructed by two alternating experienced instructors. Each session will include an introduction and setup (5-minutes), warm-up (5-minutes), body-weight and resistance band exercises (30-minutes) and cool down (5-minutes). We will upload the study protocol to an external server for more details.
Both groups will follow the exact same exercise program with one key difference: participants in the "predetermined" group will be instructed to complete 10 repetitions per set and exercise, while aiming to reach a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of 7/10 by the 10th repetition. This means that participants will need to select and adjust the resistance of each exercise (e.g., band's resistance) to achieve this goal. Conversely, in the "self-selected" group, participants will choose the initial resistance in view of their preferences, and complete as many repetitions as they wish in order to reach the same target RPE of 7/10. Note that while the initial resistance, and thus, the number of repetitions is expected to differ between group, both are matched for perception of effort.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Masking Description
Participants will be blinded to allocation
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 45 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Non-active (characterized by 60 minutes or less per week of formal exercise sessions)
- •Ages of 18-45
- •Did not participate in RT in the past six months.
- •Participants will be asked to fill out a health questionnaire. If they marked any of the items on the health questionnaire as positive (e.g., diabetes) they were asked to provide a medical clearance from a doctor.
- •Signing a health declaration to participate in physical activity according to the government regulations
Exclusion Criteria
- •Orthopedic or neurological conditions
- •Diagnosis of co-morbidities
- •Routine use of prescription medication
- •Pregnancy
- •Less than six months after childbirth
Arms & Interventions
Self-selected
Participants in the "self-selected" arm will choose the initial resistance in view of their preferences, and complete as many repetitions as they wish in order to reach the target rating of perceived exertion RPE of 7/10
Intervention: RPE-based load and repetition number selection (Behavioral)
Predetermined
Participants in the "predetermined" arm will be instructed to complete ten repetitions per set and exercise, while aiming to reach a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of 7/10 by the 10th repetition. This means that participants will need to select and adjust the resistance of each exercise (e.g., band's resistance) to achieve this goal.
Intervention: Predetermined load and number of repetitions (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change from baseline enjoyment score
Time Frame: Change from week two to week four, week six and the end of the program on week eight.
Participants will respond to a bi-monthly survey introducing the question: "how much did you enjoy the previous four sessions?" using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from (-100) (i.e., did not enjoy it at all) to 100 (i.e., enjoyed it very much). First, the change in scores from one time point the previous one will be calculated, resulting in three change scores across the duration of the study (e.g., week 4 minus week 2, week 6 minus week 4, etc.). Then, the three change scores will be averaged per group and compared between groups as the main outcome.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in hand-grip strength:(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Change in fat free mass (FFM)(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Change in response to the ease of use of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale:(Change from week two to week four, week six and the end of the program on week eight.)
- Change in the satisfaction with technology:(Change from week two to week four, week six and the end of the program on week eight.)
- Change in lower-body explosive power:(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Adherence proportion(Through study completion, a period of eight weeks.)
- Change in body mass index (BMI)(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Change in maximal strength:(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Change in knee-extensor strength:(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Change in upper body endurance:(Change from baseline to the end of intervention at eight weeks.)
- Change in perception of autonomy:(Change from week two to week four, week six and the end of the program on week eight.)
- Change in Basic Regulation to Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3) score:(Change from baseline to the end of the intervention (up to seven days from the end of week eight).)
- Change in satisfaction with the program:(Change from week two to week four, week six and the end of the program on week eight.)
Investigators
Israel Halperin
Senior faculty member
Tel Aviv University