A comparison of once- and twice-weekly eccentric training on muscular health of older adults
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN68730580 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68730580 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | IRAS 339894 |
- Submission date
- 19/01/2024
- Registration date
- 24/01/2024
- Last edited
- 02/05/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Currently, the Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom recommend that older adults partake in strength or balance training twice per week to improve muscular function. However, adherence to these recommendations is low with time and physical capacity being reported as two barriers to meeting these guidelines. Eccentric resistance training (lengthening of the muscle whilst contracting) results in greater muscular adaptations than traditional resistance and requires a lower metabolic demand, therefore fewer weekly sessions may be required and they should be easier to tolerate, even for those with pre-existing comorbidities. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of once-weekly eccentric resistance training to twice-weekly resistance training on muscular structure and function in healthy older adults.
Who can participate?
Community-dwelling older adults (aged 60 years and over) who can ambulate independently, do not suffer from any musculoskeletal or neuromuscular diseases, and are not taking any medication that may affect muscular function or balance
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups. The non-active control group maintained normal living conditions whereas the two training groups performed multi-joint isokinetic eccentric exercise for 12 weeks at 50% of their maximum eccentric strength. The once-weekly training group trained once per week and the twice-weekly training group trained twice per week; training volume was not matched between groups. The training lasted for 7 minutes in week 1 and progressed to 12 minutes in week 4, which remained the same hereafter until the training programme was completed in week 12. Participants were assessed at baseline, mid-training (week 7) and post-training (week 13).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Possible benefits are improvements in muscle strength, power, and size, whereas possible risks are muscle fatigue and temporary exercise-induced muscle damage.
Where is the study run from?
University of Northampton Health and Performance Laboratory (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2018 to March 2021
Who is funding the study?
Wellcome Trust (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Mr Brett Baxter, brett.baxter@northampton.ac.uk
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator
Waterside Campus
University Drive
Northampton
NN1 5PH
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7479-3985 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1604 892293 |
| brett.baxter@northampton.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Parallel randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Laboratory |
| Study type | Efficacy |
| Participant information sheet | 44910_PIS.pdf |
| Scientific title | Effects of once- versus twice-weekly eccentric resistance training on muscle structure and function in older adults |
| Study acronym | G1XG2XECC |
| Study objectives | 1. Both eccentric resistance training groups (once- and twice-weekly) would alter muscle structure and function 2. The twice-weekly training group would alter muscle structure and function to a greater extent than the once-weekly group |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 11/12/2018, University of Northampton Research Ethics Committee (Faculty of Art, Science, and Technology, Waterside Campus, University Drive, Northampton, NN1 5PH, United Kingdom; +44 (0)1604892523; Merryn.Ekberg@Northampton.ac.uk), ref: ETH1819-0053 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Improving neuromuscular structure and function in healthy older adults |
| Intervention | Parallel randomisation was performed using a random number generator online. The non-active control group maintained normal living conditions whereas the two training groups performed multi-joint isokinetic eccentric exercise for 12 weeks at 50% of their maximum eccentric strength. The once-weekly training group trained once per week and the twice-weekly training group trained twice per week; training volume was not matched between groups. The training lasted for 7 minutes in week 1 and progressed to 12 minutes in week 4, which remained the same hereafter until the training programme was completed in week 12. Participants were assessed at baseline, mid-training (week 7) and post-training (week 13). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Lower-limb muscular strength measured via dynamometry at baseline, mid-training (week 7) and post-training (week 13) |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Lower-limb muscular power measured using the 10-repetition sit-to-stand test at baseline, mid-training (week 7) and post-training (week 13) 2. Vastus lateralis muscle thickness measured using B-mode ultrasonography at baseline, mid-training (week 7) and post-training (week 13) |
| Overall study start date | 23/11/2018 |
| Completion date | 26/03/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Lower age limit | 60 Years |
| Upper age limit | 100 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 24 |
| Total final enrolment | 42 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. ≥60 years of age 2. Able to independently ambulate without walking aids 3. Free from any illnesses and/or medication that affected the neuromuscular system or balance 4. Not currently involved in a structured exercise programme |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. <60 years of age 2. Enrolled in a resistance training programme 3. Diagnosed with a neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disease that affects balance and/or strength 4. On medication that affects neuromuscular or musculoskeletal health |
| Date of first enrolment | 29/04/2019 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/05/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
Northampton
NN1 5PH
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
Waterside Campus
University Drive
Northampton
NN1 5PH
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)1604892577 |
|---|---|
| Tony.Kay@Northampton.ac.uk | |
| Website | http://www.northampton.ac.uk/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/04jp2hx10 |
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Private sector organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
- Alternative name(s)
- Wellcome, WT
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/03/2024 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in publicly available repository |
| Publication and dissemination plan | The project has been presented at European College of Sport Science 2023, Paris, and the project is intended to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are stored in a publicly available repository The name of the repository: PURE A persistent weblink to the dataset: https://doi.org/10.24339/3373b688-e811-4847-9f38-ccf09a9c843a The type of data stored: objective discrete data The process for requesting access (if non-publicly available): N/A Dates of availability: N/A Whether consent from participants was required and obtained: yes Comments on data anonymization: data are anonymised using participant ID numbers Any ethical or legal restrictions: no |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dataset | 16/10/2023 | 19/01/2024 | No | No | |
| Participant information sheet | 19/01/2024 | No | Yes | ||
| Results article | 26/04/2024 | 02/05/2024 | Yes | No |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
02/05/2024: Publication reference added.
19/01/2024: Study's existence confirmed by the University of Northampton Research Ethics Committee.
