Why do People Respond Differently to Resistance Training?

NCT05874986 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 60/13.00.04.00/2023
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 393
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

It is well known that regular resistance training (RT) can have health benefits. However, considerable heterogeneity in RT responses has been observed. The mechanisms underlying an individual's ability to respond to RT are mainly unknown but involve a complex network of genomic and non-genomic factors. The investigators aim to examine heterogeneity in physiological responses to RT while closely monitoring other environmental factors (e.g., physical activity levels, nutrition, sleep, and stress). Participants are healthy sedentary males and females aged 18-50 (n=400). A controlled 12-week RT intervention will be conducted in two separate data collection periods due to our sample size to characterize RT response. Data will be collected before, during, and after the study period by using measurements of muscle size, physical fitness characteristics, and body composition, as well as by collecting blood samples and questionnaires. The investigators will identify the underlying factors contributing to why people differ in their physiological responses to RT. For this, comprehensive background data will be collected to identify common denominators underlying individual differences in response to RT. The investigators will use sophisticated analytical methods to reveal new predictors of training response for different traits. This research project aims to gain insight into the sources of individual variation in physiological responses to RT. On this basis, exercise training can be personalized to optimize the benefits of RT for all individuals. Ultimately, the investigators will also be able to justify better using RT as part of individualized healthcare strategies in the future.

Conditions

Exercise Training; Healthy; Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in m. vastus lateralis (VL) cross-sectional area (CSA) after 6 and 12-week resistance training

  VL CSA (cm\^2) is determined at mid-thigh using a B-mode axial plane ultrasound (model SSD-α10, Aloka, Tokyo, Japan) with a 13 MHz linear-array probe (60 mm width) in extended-field-of-view mode (23 Hz sampling frequency). However, since Aloka US began to show signs of malfunctioning before the onset of data collection II (approximately four months after the end of data collection I), another US device (Venue Fit R4, GE Medical Systems, USA) was used in data collection II. Due to this US-device change, test-retest measurements at baseline were performed with both devices in data collection II to enable statistical comparison of these devices later. GE-US was used with a L4-20t-RS linear-array probe (48,43 mm width) in extended-field-of-view mode (6/12 MHz, 39 frames per second).

  Baseline (test and retest), week 7, week 13

Secondary Outcomes (16)

• Change in lower limb maximal strength after 6 and 12-week resistance training

  Baseline (test and retest), week 7, week 13

• Change in whole-body volume (cm^3) after 6 and 12-weeks of resistance training

  Baseline (test and retest), week 7, week 13

• Change in whole body fat-free mass after 6 and 12-week resistance training

  Baseline (test and retest), week 7, week 13

• Change in whole body fat mass after 6 and 12-week resistance training

  Baseline (test and retest), week 7, week 13

• Change in waist circumference after 6 and 12-week resistance training

  Baseline (test and retest), week 7, week 13

Other Outcomes (1)

• Background information of the participants

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Training group (n=362)

OTHER

All the participants from data collection I and data collection II.

Other: Resistance training

Control group (n=75)

OTHER

The control group consists of the participants from the training group who undergo a control period before the intervention.

Other: Resistance training

Interventions

Resistance training OTHER

12-week resistance training intervention

Also known as: Exercise training

Control group (n=75); Training group (n=362)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• age 18-50
• healthy (e.g., no diagnosed type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, etc.)
• limited experience in resistance training

You may not qualify if:

• medication affecting the cardiovascular system or metabolism
• metabolic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, or other diseases or disorders which may preclude the ability to perform exercise training and testing

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Jyvaskyla: lead
• Academy of Finland: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä, Central Finland, 40014, Finland

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Resistance Training; Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Juha P Ahtiainen, Assoc.Prof.

  University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2023
• First Posted: May 25, 2023
• Study Start: February 22, 2023
• Primary Completion: August 21, 2024
• Study Completion: August 21, 2024
• Last Updated: April 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Immediately following publication. No end date.
• Access Criteria: Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Proposals should be directed to juha.ahtiainen@jyu.fi

Locations

FI (1)