Acute Effects of Sitting Time in Older Adults

NCT02605980 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 177149
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 65
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

United Kingdom (UK) physical activity guidelines for older people state that "All older adults should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for extended periods" and "there is sufficient evidence to support a recommendation to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults, but it is not currently possible to suggest a specific time limit." The aim of this study is to identify key physiological and psychological outcomes influenced by acute periods of inactivity and what older people feel after these acute periods of inactivity. The investigators' main objective is to determine, through direct measurement and self report, the acute functional and cognitive effects of differing periods of sitting time. A secondary objective is to inform older people, professionals and organisations working with older people and policy makers on what duration of sedentary behaviour will lead to adverse outcomes in older people. The investigators will recruit ambulatory men and women aged 70 y and over who will be studied on three separate occasions, approximately one week apart to complete sedentary bouts of 1 h, 2 h and 4 h in a randomised crossover design. The investigators will explore the relationship between sitting time and changes in lower limb explosive power(primary outcome) measured before and after each bout. Secondary outcomes will include timed chair rise; Timed Up and Go; blood pressure; perception of musculoskeletal comfort/pain, vitality; mood and cognitive function. The investigators will also measure the stress hormone cortisol in samples of saliva taken at the start of the sitting session, 1 h, 2h and 4 h later. Characterising the acute effects of sitting time in older adults will enable the design of interventions to reduce sedentary time as well as inform professionals and policy makers on what duration of sedentary behaviour will lead to adverse outcomes.

Conditions

Ageing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in lower limb extensor power (Nottingham Power Rig)

  The design of the device includes an adjustable seat and a footplate connected through a chain and lever to a flywheel. There is an attached seat which is adjustable to the appropriate position for each participant, ensuring that when the footplate is fully depressed, the participant's leg will be in the extended position. The participant will sit upright in the seat with arms crossed across the chest and non- dominant leg resting with the foot flat on the floor or frame of the rig. The participants will be required to apply maximal force to the footplate, by extending their dominant leg with maximal effort. When force is applied to the footplate, the flywheel accelerates, initiating the data collection. The final velocity of the flywheel will be used to calculate power (W.kg-1), which will then be displayed on a computer interface.

  This will be assessed seven times within a period of six weeks throughout the study. First will be at the start of study (first visit).Two more tests will be conducted each time on the second,third and final visits which will be one week apart.

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Change in Timed chair rise (functional ability)

  This will be assessed seven times across three sessions (one week apart) over a period of six weeks throughout the study i.e.at the start of study, and two more tests each time on the second,third and final visits.

• Change in Timed Up and Go (marker of falls risk)

  This measure will be assessed seven times across three sessions (one week apart) over a period of six weeks throughout the study period.

• Change in blood pressure (postural hypotension)

  Blood pressure will be recorded seven times across three sessions (one week apart) over a period of six weeks throughout the study period.

• Change in balance (postural sway)

  Postural sway as a measure of static balance will be assessed seven times across three sessions (one week apart) over a period of six weeks throughout the study.

• Change in salivary cortisol

  Salivary samples will be collected nine times across three sessions (one week apart) over a period of six weeks to measure cortisol levels in participants.

Study Arms (2)

Male

Community-dwelling healthy older adults over the age of 70 years. Must be ambulatory, with or without walking aids

Behavioral: Sedentary time

Female

Community-dwelling healthy older adults over the age of 70 years. Must be ambulatory, with or without walking aids

Behavioral: Sedentary time

Interventions

Sedentary time BEHAVIORAL

Female; Male

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 70 Years - 95 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community-dwelling healthy older adults aged 70 years or over. Must be ambulatory with or without a walking aid.

You may qualify if:

• years or over
• Ambulatory with or without a walking aid.

You may not qualify if:

• History of myocardial infarction within previous 2 years
• Cardiac illness: moderate/ severe aortic stenosis, acute pericarditis, acute myocarditis, aneurysm, severe angina, clinically significant valvular disease, uncontrolled dysrhythmia, claudication within the previous 10 years
• Thrombophlebitis or pulmonary embolus within the previous 2 years
• History of cerebrovascular disease (CVA or TIA) within the previous 2 years
• Acute febrile illness within the previous 3 months
• Severe airflow obstruction
• Uncontrolled metabolic disease (e.g., thyroid disease or cancer)
• Significant emotional distress, psychotic illness or depression within the previous 2 years
• Lower limb fracture sustained within the previous 2 years; upper limb fracture within the previous 6 months; non arthroscopic lower limb joint surgery within the previous 2 years
• Any reason for loss of mobility for greater than 1 week in the previous 2 months or greater than 2 weeks in the previous 6 months
• Poorly controlled atrial fibrillation
• Poor (chronic) pain control
• Resting systolic pressure \>200 mmHg or resting diastolic pressure \>100 mmHg
• Moderate/ severe cognitive impairment (MMSE \<23)
• Impaired tissue viability (defined by a Waterlow risk assessment score \>15).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Birmingham: lead
• The Dunhill Medical Trust: collaborator
• Glasgow Caledonian University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Birmingham

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Location

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Saliva and serum from living donors

Study Officials

• Carolyn A Greig, PhD

  University of Birmingham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 16, 2015
• First Posted: November 17, 2015
• Study Start: March 2, 2016
• Primary Completion: November 26, 2018
• Study Completion: December 31, 2018
• Last Updated: June 11, 2019

Record last verified: 2016-03

Locations

GB (1)