Aging, Frail Elderly Syndrome, Sarcopenia
Conditions
Keywords
resistance training, sarcopenia, hypertrophy, tendon, frailty, ageing
Brief summary
There are no unbiased studies that have analyzed the effects of resistance training with traditional, heavy versus light-moderate loads on muscle, tendon and bone in elderly people. The purpose of the present study is to assess the effects on muscle mass and function, tendon and bone of two different training intensities, light-moderate vs. heavy load, in people older than 65 years old. The study will be carried out with a randomized controlled design. Participants will perform single training sessions and a 12-wk dynamic resistance training program on the knee extensors with different training intensities on each leg. One leg will train with heavy loads and the other one will train with light-moderate loads, but matching the load x repetitions performed by the contralateral side.
Detailed description
The decline in muscle function provoked by the aging process and frailty are directly related to decreases in mobility and the ability to perform the so called daily life activities. Resistance training is especially useful at this stage, given that it is an effective and widely applicable intervention to control and revert sarcopenia, and the deterioration of tendon and bone function. Despite of the effectiveness of heavy load resistance training, a controversy has arisen in the last years about the effects of lower load resistance training programs to achieve similar adaptations. This is because most of the studies that have compared light-moderate versus heavy load programs did not control the differences in total training load, measured as the overall mechanical work performed during the training program. Therefore, there are no unbiased studies that have analyzed the effects of resistance training with traditional, heavy versus light-moderate loads on muscle, tendon and bone in elderly people. The purpose of the present study is to assess the effects on muscle mass and function, tendon and bone of two different training intensities, light-moderate vs. heavy load, in people older than 65 years old. The studies will be carried out with a crossover (acute training sessions) and randomized controlled design (longitudinal training intervention). Participants will perform single training sessions with each resistance training intensity and a 12-wk dynamic resistance training program on the knee extensors with different training intensities on each leg. One leg will train with heavy loads and the other one will train with light-moderate loads, but matching the load x repetitions performed by the contralateral side. Muscle adaptations (EMG, muscle size and architecture), tendon mechanical properties, bone mineral density, blood parameters and life quality will be analyzed before and after the cessation of the training program.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALHigh Intensity resistance training (12 weeks)
High intensity resistance training (80% of 1 repetition maximum), 2 d/wk (Longitudinal)
BEHAVIORALLight-moderate intensity resistance training (12 weeks)
Light-moderate intensity resistance training (40% of 1 repetition maximum), 2 d/wk (Longitudinal)
BEHAVIORALControl (12 weeks)
No resistance training during the intervention period.
BEHAVIORALOne High Intensity resistance training session
High intensity resistance training, 1 training session
BEHAVIORALOne Light-moderate intensity resistance training session
Light-moderate intensity resistance training, 1 training session
Sponsors
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES)
University of Castilla-La Mancha
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 65 years and older, * non-institutionalized * passed physical examination including physical function assessment (no frailty status; SPPB \>7 points)
Exclusion criteria
* Neurological, musculoskeletal, or other disorder that would preclude completing resistance training and all performance tests * Uncontrolled hypertension, unstable or exercise-induced angina pectoris or myocardial ischemia or any other medical condition that would interfere with testing or increase one's risk of complications during exercise. * History of regular resistance exercise during the previous 3 years * Knee prosthesis
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acute change in muscle size (cross sectional area, cm2) | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Ultrasound-based determination quadriceps muscle size and architecture. |
| Change in muscle size (cross sectional area, cm2) | Change from baseline to week 12 | Ultrasound-based determination quadriceps muscle size and architecture. |
| Acute change in muscle function (N) | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Force-velocity profile of the single-leg press exercise |
| Change in muscle function (N) | Change from baseline to week 12 | Force-velocity profile of the single-leg press exercise |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acute change in muscle excitation (mV) | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Electromyographic activity of the knee extensor and flexor muscles during strength assessment and training |
| Change in muscle excitation (mV) | Change from baseline to week 12 | Electromyographic activity of the knee extensor and flexor muscles during strength assessment and training |
| Change in physical function | Change from baseline to week 12 | Short Physical Performance Battery |
| Blood analysis: Acute change in oxidative stress | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Carbonyl proteins (plasma concentration) |
| Blood analysis: Change in oxidative stress | Change from baseline to week 12 | Carbonyl proteins (plasma concentration) |
| Change in patellar tendon stiffness (N/mm) | Change from baseline to week 12 | Ultrasound and force-based measures of tendon mechanical properties. |
| Blood analysis: Change in inflammation | Change from baseline to week 12 | Interleukin 6, Tumoral necrosis factor Alpha, C reactive protein (plasma concentration) |
| Blood analysis: Acute change in anabolic processes | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Testosterone, growth hormone, Insulin growth factor-1 (plasma concentration) |
| Blood analysis: Change in anabolic processes | Change from baseline to week 12 | Testosterone, growth hormone, Insulin growth factor-1 (plasma concentration) |
| Blood analysis: Acute change in catabolic processes | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Cortisol, Creatin kinase (plasma concentration) |
| Blood analysis: Change in catabolic processes | Change from baseline to week 12 | Cortisol, Creatin kinase (plasma concentration) |
| Blood analysis: Acute change in Inflammation | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session (Acute) | Interleukin 6, Tumoral necrosis factor Alpha, C reactive protein (plasma concentration) |
| Acute change in patellar tendon stiffness (N/mm) | Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session | Ultrasound and force-based measures of tendon mechanical properties. |
| Change in muscle mass (kg) | Change from baseline to week 12 | Lean mass determined by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry |
| Change in bone mass (g) | Change from baseline to week 12 | Bone mineral content determined by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed