Stair Climbing Exercise Versus Traditional Resistance Exercise

NCT05263115 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: S66174
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Current evidence suggests resistance exercise as the primary therapeutic strategy to prevent age-related functional decline. The National Strength and Conditioning Association recently stated that a properly designed resistance exercise program should include power exercises performed at higher velocities in concentric movements with moderate intensities. We should be aware that not all older adults are easily motivated to train in unfamiliar gym-based settings with high subscription fees. Therefore, implementation of traditional gym-based resistance exercise at a large scale has been found to be difficult. Interestingly, we have previously shown that the use of high external loads, which implies the need for specific facility memberships, is not necessary to induce neuromuscular gains. This provides strong support for home-based training intervention strategies. Stair climbing or stepping-based exercise constitute a promising avenue to ameliorate the cost-effectiveness and implementation potential of resistance exercise in older adults. Such exercises can induce muscular activation levels similar to high-load resistance exercise and result in similar or even better gains in muscle mass, strength and power compared to slow-speed resistance exercise when properly designed. However, the (neuro)-muscular effects of stair climbing exercise have never been compared to the more optimal power-oriented resistance exercise, which is the primary aim of this study. The secondary aim of this study is to examine if stair climbing exercise also has beneficial effects on cognition.

Conditions

Exercise Training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• F-V profile

  Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. F0 (maximal force), v0 (maximal velocity), a (the equation's slope), Pmax (maximal power) and the corresponding v and F at Pmax are used for the analyses.

  Change from baseline in F-v profile at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Gait speed

  Change from baseline in gait speed at 12 weeks

• 5-repetition sit-to-stand time

  Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 12 weeks

• 5-repetition sit-to-stand power

  Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 12 weeks

• Stair ascent time

  Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 12 weeks.

• Stair ascent power

  Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 12 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

Resistance exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

12-week progressive power-oriented resistance exercise program on leg press machine

Other: Resistance Exercise intervention

Functional stair and stepping-based exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

12-week progressive functional weight-bearing stair and stepping-based exercise program

Other: Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention

Interventions

Resistance Exercise intervention OTHER

12-week progressive resistance exercise intervention

Resistance exercise

Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention OTHER

12-week progressive stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention

Functional stair and stepping-based exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may not qualify if:

• Unstable cardiovascular disease
• Neurological disorders
• Cognitive malfunctioning (MoCA \< 24)
• Low level of physical function (SPPB \< 7)
• Acute infections/fever
• Severe musculoskeletal problems
• Systematic engagement in (resistance) exercise in the 12 months prior to participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• KU Leuven: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Movement Sciences

Leuven, 3001, Belgium

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Van Roie E, van Uffelen J, Delecluse C. Stair-Climbing Versus Machine-Based Resistance Exercise to Improve Muscle Power Among Older Adults: A Noninferiority Trial. J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Mar 1;39(3):e496-e505. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005005. Epub 2024 Nov 26.

  PMID: 39590559 DERIVED

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2022
• First Posted: March 2, 2022
• Study Start: February 11, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 30, 2022
• Study Completion: July 30, 2022
• Last Updated: January 23, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-01

Locations

BE (1)