Muscle Capillarization and Sarcopenia

NCT03984994 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: HP-000860015R21AG064571
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 14
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Aging is associated with a loss of muscle mass, termed sarcopenia, that reduces mobility, decreases physical function and accelerates progression of other age-related disorders. This study is designed to determine whether increasing skeletal muscle capillarization through aerobic exercise will enhance muscular adaptations to strength training in older adults with sarcopenia.

Conditions

Sarcopenia

Keywords

muscle; capillary; exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Skeletal Muscle Capillarization

  Change in the number of capillaries per unit of skeletal muscle tissue after resistance training. The aims of the study were to compare responses to resistance training between arms/groups. Therefore, only the resistance training-induced change (post minus pre-resistance training) is assessed and analyzed as this is the primary outcome for each arm.

  3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)

• Quadriceps Muscle Cross-sectional Area

  Change in the size of the thigh muscles. The aims of the study were to compare responses to resistance training between arms/groups. Therefore, only the resistance training-induced change (post minus pre-resistance training) is assessed and analyzed as this is the primary outcome for each arm.

  3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Skeletal Muscle Fiber Size

  3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)

• Muscle Strength

  3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)

Study Arms (2)

Aerobic exercise training followed by resistance training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of aerobic exercise training, followed by 3 months of strength training

Other: Aerobic exercise training; Other: Strength training

Resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of strength training, followed by 3 months of aerobic exercise training

Other: Aerobic exercise training; Other: Strength training

Interventions

Aerobic exercise training OTHER

3 months of center-based, supervised treadmill exercise

Aerobic exercise training followed by resistance training; Resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training

Strength training OTHER

3 months of center-based, supervise strength training

Aerobic exercise training followed by resistance training; Resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 88 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Body Mass Index = 18-32.5 kg/m2
• Non-smoker
• Presence of at least moderate sarcopenia (low muscle mass per unit body height)

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of diabetes, cancer, pulmonary or renal disease
• Physical impairment preventing exercise
• Recent history of exercise training

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Baltimore VA Medical Center: lead
• University of Maryland, Baltimore: collaborator
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): collaborator

Study Sites (2)

University of Maryland, Baltimore & Baltimore VA Medical Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

Location

University of Maryland

College Park, Maryland, 20742, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Motor Activity

Interventions

Resistance Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Steven J. Prior
• Organization: University of Maryland

sprior@umd.edu

301-405-2483

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: The study employs 2 interventions: resistance training and aerobic exercise training. One group of participants will undergo resistance training then aerobic exercise training; the other group will undergo aerobic exercise training then resistance training.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2019
• First Posted: June 13, 2019
• Study Start: November 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2024
• Study Completion: April 30, 2024
• Last Updated: October 29, 2025
• Results First Posted: October 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)