Effects of Different Amounts of Plyometric Exercise Without Jumping in Physically Inactive Older Adults

NCT07891000 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PIR2026_32
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether different amounts of plyometric exercise without jumping can improve lower-limb muscle strength, power, and muscle and tendon mechanical properties in sedentary and/or physically inactive older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does performing a higher amount of plyometric exercise without jumping lead to greater improvements in functional muscle strength and power than performing a lower amount? Do different amounts of exercise produce different changes in the mechanical properties of muscles and tendons? Researchers will compare three groups: a high-volume exercise group, a low-volume exercise group, and a control group that will not receive the exercise intervention. This comparison will help determine how the amount of exercise influences physical function and muscle and tendon properties. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Complete physical assessments before and after the eight-week study period, including tests of lower-limb strength, power, and muscle and tendon mechanical properties. If assigned to an exercise group, participate in supervised plyometric exercise sessions without jumping twice a week for eight weeks. If assigned to the control group, continue their usual daily activities without participating in the exercise program during the study.

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior / Physical Inactivity; Aging

Keywords

Plyometric Exercise; Physical Conditioning, Human; Aged; Sedentary Behavior; Physical Functional Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Peak Functional Lower-Limb Force

  Peak lower-limb force will be assessed using an electromechanical dynamometer (DynaSystem) during an instrumented sit-to-stand-to-sit task performed under isokinetic (15 cm/s) and isotonic (60% of body weight) conditions. Peak force will be normalized to body mass and expressed in N/kg. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be compared between groups.

  Baseline and post-intervention (Week 8).

• Peak Functional Lower-Limb Power

  Peak lower-limb power will be assessed using an electromechanical dynamometer (DynaSystem) during an instrumented sit-to-stand-to-sit task performed under isokinetic (15 cm/s) and isotonic (60% of body weight) conditions. Peak power will be normalized to body mass and expressed in W/kg. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be compared between groups.

  Baseline and post-intervention (Week 8).

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Muscle Oscillation Frequency

  Baseline and Week 8 (post-intervention)

• Musculotendinous Stiffness

  Baseline and Week 8 (post-intervention)

• Muscle Logarithmic Decrement

  Baseline and Week 8 (post-intervention)

• Muscle Relaxation Time

  Baseline and Week 8 (post-intervention)

Study Arms (3)

High-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this group will complete a supervised non-jumping plyometric training program twice weekly for eight weeks. The intervention will involve rapid eccentric-concentric lower-limb movements performed without jumping, with a progressively increasing training volume ranging from 60 to 90 repetitions per session. Exercise intensity will be comparable to that of the low-volume group, allowing the effects of training volume to be investigated.

Behavioral: High-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training

Low-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this group will complete a supervised non-jumping plyometric training program twice weekly for eight weeks. The intervention will involve the same exercises and comparable exercise intensity as the high-volume group, but with a lower training volume ranging from 30 to 45 repetitions per session. Training volume will progressively increase throughout the intervention period.

Behavioral: Low-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training

Non-Exercising Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to the control group will not receive the experimental exercise intervention during the eight-week study period. They will be instructed to maintain their usual daily activities and avoid initiating new structured exercise programs. Participants will undergo the same baseline and post-intervention assessments as those assigned to the experimental groups.

Interventions

High-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete a supervised non-jumping plyometric training program twice weekly for eight weeks (16 sessions). The intervention will consist of rapid eccentric-concentric lower-limb movements performed without an aerial phase, with a progressively increasing training volume of 60-90 repetitions per session. Exercises will be performed with maximal intended movement velocity during the concentric phase, according to each participant's functional capacity. Appropriate recovery intervals and professional supervision will be provided throughout the intervention.

High-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training

Low-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete a supervised non-jumping plyometric training program twice weekly for eight weeks (16 sessions). The intervention will involve the same exercises, movement characteristics, and intended exercise intensity as the high-volume group, but with a progressively increasing training volume of 30-45 repetitions per session. Exercises will be performed with maximal intended movement velocity during the concentric phase, according to each participant's functional capacity. Appropriate recovery intervals and professional supervision will be provided throughout the intervention.

Low-Volume Non-Jumping Plyometric Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 60 to 80 years.
• Sedentary and/or physically inactive individuals, defined as engaging in less than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week and/or spending more than 8 hours per day in sedentary activities.
• Participation in fewer than two muscle-strengthening exercise sessions per week.
• Body mass index below 30 kg/m².
• Ability to safely perform lower-limb exercises involving rapid muscle contractions without jumping.
• Willingness to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Musculoskeletal injuries affecting the lower limbs within the previous three months.
• History of lower-limb surgery within the previous two years.
• Cardiovascular diseases or other medical conditions that could compromise participant safety during exercise or physical assessments.
• Any physical or medical limitation that prevents the safe execution of the exercise protocol or functional assessments.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Americas - Chili: lead

Related Publications (3)

• Torres-Banduc M, Chirosa-Rios I, Chirosa-Rios L, Jerez-Mayorga D. Impact of Starting Knee Flexion Angle on Muscle Activity and Performance during Plyometrics without Jumping. Sensors (Basel). 2023 Dec 20;24(1):44. doi: 10.3390/s24010044.

  PMID: 38202906 BACKGROUND

• Vetrovsky T, Steffl M, Stastny P, Tufano JJ. The Efficacy and Safety of Lower-Limb Plyometric Training in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2019 Jan;49(1):113-131. doi: 10.1007/s40279-018-1018-x.

  PMID: 30387072 BACKGROUND

• El Hadouchi M, Kiers H, de Vries R, Veenhof C, van Dieen J. Effectiveness of power training compared to strength training in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2022 Aug 11;19(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s11556-022-00297-x.

  PMID: 35953775 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Maximiliano A. Torres, PhD

  University of Americas - Chili

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Maximiliano A Torres, PhD

CONTACT

+569-50792984; mtorres@udla.cl

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Model Details: This study is a single-blind, three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 54 sedentary and/or physically inactive older adults aged 60-80 years will be randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups: high-volume non-jumping plyometric training (60-90 repetitions per session), low-volume non-jumping plyometric training (30-45 repetitions per session), or a non-exercising control group. Both intervention groups will complete two supervised training sessions per week for eight weeks, with progressive increases in exercise volume. The control group will maintain their usual daily activities. All participants will undergo assessments before and after the intervention. Outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 14, 2026
• First Posted: October 23, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 12, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027
• Last Updated: October 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share