The Effects of Autonomy and Perceptions on Resistance Training Outcomes

NCT05371587 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ISF_Halperin_TAU
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 129
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

120 participants will be randomized into one of two groups that will perform resistance training at a gym three time per week for three months. One group will follow common resistance training guidelines, whereas the other will exercise according to their preferences and perception of effort. The groups will be compared on the following primary outcomes after six and 12 weeks: body composition, physiological and performance tests. The groups will be compared on the following secondary outcomes every two weeks: enjoyment and satisfaction levels. Adherence rates will be measured throughout the intervention.

Conditions

Strength Training

Keywords

Autonomy; Perception of effort

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• Change in systolic blood pressure

  Participants will rest in a relaxed seating position for five minutes. Then their blood pressure and resting heart rate will be taken using an Omron M7 (HEM-780-E) blood pressure measuring device.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) value

  The blood samples will be collected by single-use disposable needle. A total of 20 mL of blood will be collected at each time-point in two, 10 mL Vacutainer® tubes: a plasma tube containing anticoagulant and a serum tube where the blood is allowed to clot. Plasma samples will be stored in ice until centrifuged twice at 1,500g for 10 minutes at 4° Celsius. Serum will be kept in room temperature for 60 minutes then centrifuged at 1300g for 10 minutes. Both samples will be divided into separate 1.8-mL microcentrifuge tubes and will be frozen at -80° C for later analysis.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in fasting glucose value

  The blood samples will be collected by single-use disposable needle. A total of 20 mL of blood will be collected at each time-point in two, 10 mL Vacutainer® tubes: a plasma tube containing anticoagulant and a serum tube where the blood is allowed to clot. Plasma samples will be stored in ice until centrifuged twice at 1,500g for 10 minutes at 4° Celsius. Serum will be kept in room temperature for 60 minutes then centrifuged at 1300g for 10 minutes. Both samples will be divided into separate 1.8-mL microcentrifuge tubes and will be frozen at -80° C for later analysis

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in fat free mass

  Fat free mass will be measured using the SECA mBCA 515 (Seca, Hamburg, Germany), a valid and reliable analyzer of body composition. Participants will drink 400 ml of water before the examination which will take place in the morning. Drinking will be stopped 30 minutes before the examination and participants will be instructed to urinate and remove any jewelries before the examination.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in waist circumference

  Waist circumference will be measured according to WHO protocol: Participants will expose the area between their ribs and pelvic. The same investigator will measure the distance between the lower end of their ribcage and the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and measure the waist circumference three times, midway between the two anatomical landmarks. The average value of the three measurements in centimeters will be documented for analysis.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in maximal muscle strength- One repetition maximum

  Participants will perform a dynamic warmup including mobility and calisthenics exercises, followed by specific warm up sets of each of the exercises: Horizontal leg press, knee extension and seated chest press (performed on weight-stack machines). Then, up to five attempts will be made to complete one repetition sets with increasing load until the participant either fails to complete the full range of motion or declares she cannot attempt the next set. The load (in kg) of the final successful attempt for each exercise will be documented for analysis. Two to three minutes rest will be provided between the attempts. The order of the exercises will be maintained throughout the assessment points and between participants. The assessments will be carried out by the same experimenter at the same time of day ±2 hours.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in muscle endurance

  Participants will perform a dynamic warmup including mobility and calisthenics exercises, followed by specific warm up sets of the knee extension and the chest press exercises. Then, 70% of the participant's identified maximal load (1RM) will be used to perform repetitions until task-failure (i.e., not able to complete another repetition). The number of completed repetitions will be documented for analysis. The same reference load will be used at six weeks. The order of the exercises will be maintained throughout the assessment points and between participants. The assessments will be carried out by the same experimenter at the same time of day ±2 hours.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Change in maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) - knee extension

  Isometric knee extension (using the knee extension machine) - will be assessed in a 90° angle using a link device (Kinvent, Link pull dynamometer) attached to a ratchet belt.

  Baseline to twelve weeks

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Change in self efficacy questionnaire score

  Baseline to twelve weeks

• Enjoyment

  Six weeks to twelve weeks

• Adherence

  End of week 12

• Adherence without incentive

  From week 12 to week 24

• Change in total cholesterol value

  Baseline to twelve weeks

Study Arms (2)

A - Standard resistance training prescription

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Standard resistance training prescription: participants will perform three sessions per week comprised of six resistance training exercises - horizontal leg press, lat-pulldown, knee extension, chest press, leg curls and shoulder press. They will perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions using 65% percent of the maximal load that can be lifted once according to a one repetition maximum (1RM) test. Their progression model will be as follows: Weeks 1-3 65%1RM; Weeks 4-6 70%1RM; 1RM reassessment at week 6; Weeks 7-9 70% of the updated 1RM; Weeks 10-12 75%1RM. Prior to beginning of the program four visits will take place: 1. Laboratory visit for measuring physiological and anthropometric outcomes (see outcomes section) 2. 1RM testing 3. Endurance and maximal voluntary contraction testing + introduction with the exercise program 4. A second introduction session with the exercise program

Other: Standard prescription

B- Autonomy and perceptions approach to resistance training (APART)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform 3 sessions/week of the same exercises. They will perform 3 sets of each exercise, self-select the load they lift in each set and perform repetitions aiming to reach a level of effort of 7-8 on a 0-10 rating of perceived effort scale (RPE) at the end of the set. Their progression model will be as follows: Weeks 1-3 RPE 7/10; Weeks 4-12 RPE 8/10. The selected RPE score of 7 and then 8 out of 10 has been shown to lead to increases in maximal strength in previous research. Prior to beginning of the program four visits will take place: 1. Laboratory visit (similar to standard). 2. 1RM testing where the principles of perceived effort will be introduced. 3. Endurance and maximal voluntary contraction testing + introduction with the exercise program. Participants will practice how to self-select the load they prefer and then perform repetitions leading to the target RPE score. 4. A second introduction session with the exercise program and the RPE construct.

Other: Autonomy and Perceptions Approach to Resistance Training (APART)

Interventions

Autonomy and Perceptions Approach to Resistance Training (APART) OTHER

Alternative resistance training prescription based on trainees' autonomy and perceptions.

B- Autonomy and perceptions approach to resistance training (APART)

Standard prescription OTHER

Standard resistance training prescription, based on international organization's guidelines.

A - Standard resistance training prescription

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• No health issues preventing resistance training
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 ("normal") and 29.9 ("overweight")
• Body weight \> 50 Kg
• Without RT experience or with little experience (i.e. less than once a week in the past 12 months).

You may not qualify if:

• Participants who responded positively to any of the health sections and did not provide medical clearance
• Pregnant women or less than six months after childbirth
• BMI values outside of the specified range
• Body weight \< 50 Kg
• RT experience exceeding the specified cut-off (see above)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tel Aviv University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv, Israel, 4059100, Israel

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Westcott WL. Resistance training is medicine: effects of strength training on health. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012 Jul-Aug;11(4):209-16. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31825dabb8.

  PMID: 22777332 BACKGROUND

• Bennie JA, De Cocker K, Smith JJ, Wiesner GH. The epidemiology of muscle-strengthening exercise in Europe: A 28-country comparison including 280,605 adults. PLoS One. 2020 Nov 25;15(11):e0242220. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242220. eCollection 2020.

  PMID: 33237930 BACKGROUND

• Phillips SM, Winett RA. Uncomplicated resistance training and health-related outcomes: evidence for a public health mandate. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010 Jul-Aug;9(4):208-13. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181e7da73.

  PMID: 20622538 BACKGROUND

• Iwatsuki T, Abdollahipour R, Psotta R, Lewthwaite R, Wulf G. Autonomy facilitates repeated maximum force productions. Hum Mov Sci. 2017 Oct;55:264-268. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2017.08.016. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

  PMID: 28865313 BACKGROUND

• Thompson PD, Arena R, Riebe D, Pescatello LS; American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's new preparticipation health screening recommendations from ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription, ninth edition. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2013 Jul-Aug;12(4):215-7. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31829a68cf. No abstract available.

  PMID: 23851406 BACKGROUND

• Helms ER, Byrnes RK, Cooke DM, Haischer MH, Carzoli JP, Johnson TK, Cross MR, Cronin JB, Storey AG, Zourdos MC. RPE vs. Percentage 1RM Loading in Periodized Programs Matched for Sets and Repetitions. Front Physiol. 2018 Mar 21;9:247. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00247. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 29628895 BACKGROUND

• Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;14(5):377-81.

  PMID: 7154893 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Israel Halperin, PhD

  Tel Aviv University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants are allocated using sealed envelops, they receive their arm identification "A" or "B" without information regarding the intervention or group differences. Data will be analyzed using the identification letter without treatment allocation information.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principle investigator

Model Details: A parallel two-armed, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2022
• First Posted: May 12, 2022
• Study Start: May 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2024
• Last Updated: March 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IL (1)