Effects of Resistance Training With High vs. Light-moderate Loads on Muscle-tendon Function in the Elderly

NCT03724461 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DEP2015-69386-R
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 55
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Aging; Sarcopenia; Frail Elderly Syndrome

Keywords

resistance training; sarcopenia; hypertrophy; tendon; frailty; ageing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Acute change in muscle size (cross sectional area, cm2)

  Ultrasound-based determination quadriceps muscle size and architecture.

  Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session

• Change in muscle size (cross sectional area, cm2)

  Ultrasound-based determination quadriceps muscle size and architecture.

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Acute change in muscle function (N)

  Force-velocity profile of the single-leg press exercise

  Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session

• Change in muscle function (N)

  Force-velocity profile of the single-leg press exercise

  Change from baseline to week 12

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Change in patellar tendon stiffness (N/mm)

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Acute change in patellar tendon stiffness (N/mm)

  Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session

• Change in muscle mass (kg)

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Change in bone mass (g)

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Acute change in muscle excitation (mV)

  Change from baseline at 5 minutes after a training session

Study Arms (5)

High intensity vs Control (12 weeks)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

8 weeks of baseline period plus an exercise program where one leg undergoes High Intensity resistance training (12 weeks) and the other leg is established as control.

Behavioral: High Intensity resistance training (12 weeks); Behavioral: Control (12 weeks)

Light intensity vs Control (12 weeks)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

8 weeks of baseline period plus an exercise program where one leg undergoes light-moderate intensity resistance training (12 weeks) and the other leg is established as control.

Behavioral: Light-moderate intensity resistance training (12 weeks); Behavioral: Control (12 weeks)

High vs Light intensity (12 weeks)

EXPERIMENTAL

8 weeks of baseline period plus an exercise program where one leg undergoes High Intensity resistance training (12 weeks) and the other leg undergoes light-moderate intensity resistance training.

Behavioral: High Intensity resistance training (12 weeks); Behavioral: Light-moderate intensity resistance training (12 weeks)

High intensity (Acute)

EXPERIMENTAL

Analysis of the effects of one High Intensity resistance training session, with a crossover design.

Behavioral: One High Intensity resistance training session

Light intensity (Acute)

EXPERIMENTAL

Analysis of the effects of one Light-moderate Intensity resistance training session, with a crossover design.

Behavioral: One Light-moderate intensity resistance training session

Interventions

High Intensity resistance training (12 weeks) BEHAVIORAL

High intensity resistance training (80% of 1 repetition maximum), 2 d/wk (Longitudinal)

Also known as: HIT

High intensity vs Control (12 weeks); High vs Light intensity (12 weeks)

Light-moderate intensity resistance training (12 weeks) BEHAVIORAL

Light-moderate intensity resistance training (40% of 1 repetition maximum), 2 d/wk (Longitudinal)

Also known as: LIT

High vs Light intensity (12 weeks); Light intensity vs Control (12 weeks)

Control (12 weeks) BEHAVIORAL

No resistance training during the intervention period.

Also known as: CON

High intensity vs Control (12 weeks); Light intensity vs Control (12 weeks)

One High Intensity resistance training session BEHAVIORAL

High intensity resistance training, 1 training session

Also known as: HIT (Acute)

High intensity (Acute)

One Light-moderate intensity resistance training session BEHAVIORAL

Light-moderate intensity resistance training, 1 training session

Also known as: LIT (Acute)

Light intensity (Acute)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years and older,
• non-institutionalized
• passed physical examination including physical function assessment (no frailty status; SPPB \>7 points)

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Castilla-La Mancha: lead
• Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain: collaborator
• Biomedical Research Networking Center on Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Laboratorio de Actividad Física y Función Muscular. Campus de la Fábrica de Armas. Avda. Carlos III s/n

Toledo, 45071, Spain

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Rodriguez-Lopez C, Alcazar J, Sanchez-Martin C, Baltasar-Fernandez I, Ara I, Csapo R, Alegre LM. Contralateral Adaptations After Unilateral Power Training in Older Adults: The Effect of Intensity of Load. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2025 Nov;35(11):e70165. doi: 10.1111/sms.70165.

  PMID: 41222282 DERIVED

• Rodriguez-Lopez C, Alcazar J, Losa-Reyna J, Martin-Espinosa NM, Baltasar-Fernandez I, Ara I, Csapo R, Alegre LM. Effects of Power-Oriented Resistance Training With Heavy vs. Light Loads on Muscle-Tendon Function in Older Adults: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Physiol. 2021 Feb 18;12:635094. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.635094. eCollection 2021.

  PMID: 33679447 DERIVED

• Rodriguez-Lopez C, Alcazar J, Sanchez-Martin C, Ara I, Csapo R, Alegre LM. Mechanical Characteristics of Heavy vs. Light Load Ballistic Resistance Training in Older Adults. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Aug 1;36(8):2094-2101. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003826. Epub 2020 Sep 16.

  PMID: 32947572 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Hypertrophy; Frailty

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pathologic Processes

Study Officials

• Luis M. Alegre, PhD

  Associate Professor

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2018
• First Posted: October 30, 2018
• Study Start: September 1, 2017
• Primary Completion: March 12, 2020
• Study Completion: March 12, 2020
• Last Updated: June 16, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-06

Locations

ES (1)