NCT02139865

Brief Summary

When practicing weightlifting regularly the body makes new proteins within the muscle. These new proteins can increase the size of the cells within the muscle to make them larger, a process called hypertrophy. The common convention surrounding gains in skeletal muscle size and strength is that heavy weights are needed. In contrast, lifting lighter weights are thought to be required to induce muscular endurance and not to promote growth. However, it has previously been shown in untrained men that lifting lighter weights results in similar gains in muscle mass and strength as lifting heavier weights. The purpose of this study is to examine how performing resistance training of different intensities (light or heavy weights) affects the degree of muscle growth and strength gain in individuals who are already resistance training. This information will be valuable when designing exercise protocols for increasing muscle size and strength at all ages, or in individuals returning from injury, as a way to stimulate muscle growth and promote strength gains without the need to lift heavy weights.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2014

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 7, 2014

Completed
24 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2014

Completed
14 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 15, 2014

Completed
1.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2015

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2016

Completed
Last Updated

March 19, 2018

Status Verified

March 1, 2016

Enrollment Period

1.6 years

First QC Date

April 7, 2014

Last Update Submit

March 15, 2018

Conditions

Skeletal Muscle HypertrophyMuscle Weakness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Muscle Volume

    Change from baseline at 12 weeks Measured via 4 compartment model

    0 weeks (baseline) and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Gene expression

    0 weeks (baseline) and 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

30%

EXPERIMENTAL

Training at 30% 1RM

Behavioral: 30% 1RM

80%

EXPERIMENTAL

Training at 80% 1RM

Behavioral: 80% 1RM

Interventions

30% 1RMBEHAVIORAL

Participant exercises using a protocol tailored at 30% of their 1RM

30%
80% 1RMBEHAVIORAL

Participant exercises using a protocol tailored at 80% of their 1RM

80%

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 30 Years
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Male
  • Aged 18-30 years old
  • Non-obese (Body mass index less than 30 kg/m2)
  • Non-smoker

You may not qualify if:

  • Resistance trained (Resistance training \> 2 times per week for 2 years, minimum 1 lower body exercise session per week)
  • Allergies to milk proteins (whey or casein)
  • Any acute or chronic illness, cardiac, pulmonary, liver, or kidney abnormalities, uncontrolled hypertension, insulin- or non-insulin dependent diabetes or other metabolic disorders-all ascertained through medical history screening questionnaires
  • Arthritic conditions
  • Individuals who consume any analgesic or anti-inflammatory drug(s), prescription or non- prescription, chronically will be excluded
  • A history of neuromuscular problems
  • Individuals on any medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or prescription strength acne medications).

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Exercise Metabolism Research Laboratory, McMaster Univeristy

Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada

Location

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Morton RW, Oikawa SY, Wavell CG, Mazara N, McGlory C, Quadrilatero J, Baechler BL, Baker SK, Phillips SM. Neither load nor systemic hormones determine resistance training-mediated hypertrophy or strength gains in resistance-trained young men. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 Jul 1;121(1):129-38. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00154.2016. Epub 2016 May 12.

    PMID: 27174923RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Muscle Weakness

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesNeuromuscular ManifestationsNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Stuart Phillips, Ph.D.

    McMaster University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 7, 2014

First Posted

May 15, 2014

Study Start

May 1, 2014

Primary Completion

December 1, 2015

Study Completion

March 1, 2016

Last Updated

March 19, 2018

Record last verified: 2016-03

Locations

CA(2)