Power Training Versus Strength Training in the Elderly

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Other: Power Training; Other: Strength Training

• Registration Number: NCT02852668
• Lead Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo

Brief Summary

The inexorable decline in motor skills during aging provides the investigators with an elderly population with various functional limitations. Among these, the ability to walk, being associated with the risk of falling has been studied by several authors. The adoption of strength and power training as an intervention strategy to reduce the negative effects arising from the physiological or pathological process of aging has been widely discussed in these studies. However, the effects of these interventions on biomechanical gait indicators have not been fully debated yet. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of these two training protocols on functional capacities and biomechanical gait parameters of elderly women.

Detailed Description

Three female groups, homogenized by age, body mass index and physical activity level, were formed: the control group (GC: n=8, 69±4 years old), the strength training group (GF: n=6, 67±4 years old) and the power training group (GP, n=7, 68±4 years old). No extra activity was induced to GC's routine. Meanwhile, GF and GP underwent 12 weeks of strength and power training, respectively, with three weekly sessions. While GF performed the exercises with moderate speed (70-90% of 1RM), the GP executed them in fast speed (40-60% of 1RM). A kinematic and electromyographic gait evaluation, as well as balance and functional capacity evaluations, were conducted prior and after the intervention period.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-06
• Primary Completion: 2011-12
• Study Completion: 2012-01
• Status Verified: 2016-07
• Study First Submitted: 2016-07-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-08-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-08-01
• Study First Posted: 2016-08-02
• Last Update Posted: 2016-08-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• sedentary women with no physical mobility limitations

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Exclusion Criteria

• attending less than 75% of the intervention sessions and not attending the final evaluation

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Power Training Group	Power Training	Physical exercises. Strength training performed quickly
Strength Training Group	Strength Training	Physical exercises. Strength training performed in moderate speed

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Muscle power	through study completion, an average of 6 months	knee extensors muscle power
Gait kinematics	through study completion, an average of 6 months	toe clearance: minimum vertical distance of the forefoot and the ground during swing phase
Timed up and go test	through study completion, an average of 6 months	time needed to get up from a seated position walk 3 meters and walk back to the chair
electromyography gait analysis	through study completion, an average of 6 months	Knee extensors and flexors muscles co-contraction during the gait cycle