The Perceived Point of Muscular Discomfort vs the Point of Failure in the Ageing Population- a Pilot Study

NCT07410299 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: FHM-2025-5865-IRAS-2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is an investigation into the differences in muscle activation and numerical difference in reps between the feeling of moderate discomfort and technical failure during a set of bodyweight resistance exercise. The investigators know that resistance training is an essential tool for older people to maintain muscle function, valuable independence and autonomy in daily tasks. The idea of completing a set of resistance training activity to the point of failing a repetition due to fatigue regularly has been shown to not be appealing and could be a reason why there are low participation rates among older people for in weight training regularly. Research has also shown that it is not necessary to train to failure (being unable to continue to complete repetitions of an exercise with the proper technique due to fatigue), but the investigators would like to know if training to a point of moderate discomfort can also allow for the muscles to gain the positive changes associated with weight training, potentially making it more accessible and enjoyable. Using bodyweight exercises (a squat pattern and a push up pattern) the investigators will see how many repetitions after the point of perceived moderate discomfort is stated at which the point of failure is. the investigators will also measure muscle activation in the quadriceps and triceps with EMG (a device that can detect the muscles' electrical activity/ how hard it is working) to see at which point the muscle is working the hardest.

Conditions

Muscle Fatigue Caused by Repetitive Muscle Exercise

Keywords

fatigue; Ageing population; resistance exercise; electromyography

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The number of reps between reported perceived moderate muscular discomfort and technical failure.

  The quantitative difference between the rep number that the participant reports the feeling of moderate muscular discomfort at (5 on a scale of 1-10) compared to the rep number that technical failure of the set occurs.

  During 1 set of body weight resistance exercise.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Muscle Activity

  During intervention

• Accuracy of exercise difficulty selection

  Immediately after intervention

Study Arms (1)

Bodyweight push-up and squat variations

EXPERIMENTAL

The participant will select a variation of the push-up and squat. This will either be beginner, intermediate or advanced. Muscle activity in the triceps and quadriceps muscle groups will be measured for the push-up and squat patterns respectively.

Other: Resistance Exercise Protocol

Interventions

Resistance Exercise Protocol OTHER

The intervention involves performing progressive variations of squat and push-up patterns to technical failure while monitored by EMG electrodes on the triceps and quadriceps. Participants verbally signal a "moderate" discomfort threshold (5/10) during each set to identify the repetition gap between perceived strain and actual physical exhaustion. This structured exercise task serves to calibrate subjective effort against objective muscle activation (%MVC) to map the physiological mechanics of fatigue.

Bodyweight push-up and squat variations

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 60-80 years of age.
• Physically capable of resistance training.
• Able to walk unassisted.

You may not qualify if:

• Major cardiovascular (e.g. myocardial infarction, angioplasty within the last year, coronary artery bypass graft), neurological (e.g. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, major anxiety or depressive disorders), muscular (e.g., muscular dystrophies, myopathies, myositis) or uncontrolled metabolic conditions (e.g. Type 1 or 2 diabetes).
• Severe obesity (BMI \>39).
• Have undertaken regular resistance exercise in the last 12 months.
• Any upper or lower body musculoskeletal injury that impairs the participants ability to perform a repetition as fast as possible.
• Acute or terminal illnesses (e.g. severe locals or systemic infections, cancer).
• Current residence being within a setting of care.
• Experience of muscle pain from taking statins.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lancaster University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Lancaster University

Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 4YW, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Paul Hendrickse, PhD

  Lancaster University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Lawrence Hayes, PhD

  Lancaster University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Matthew Davitt, Msc

CONTACT

07743061291; m.davitt@lancaster.ac.uk

Paul Hendrickse, PhD

CONTACT

07743061291; p.hendrickse@lancaster.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 10, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 10, 2026
• Study Completion: March 10, 2026
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

GB (1)