Upper Versus Lower Limb Responses to Higher Versus Lower Load Resistance Training in Young Men

June 19, 2019 updated by: Stuart Phillips, McMaster University

Variability in Resistance Training-induced Hypertrophy and Strength Are Independent of Load and Limb Location in Healthy Young Men

Recent research suggests that performing resistance exercise training with relatively light loads is equally as effective at increasing muscle mass and muscle strength as performing resistance exercise training with relatively heavy loads. Whether or not performing resistance exercise with relatively heavy loads or light loads is equally as effective between the upper- and lower-body within the same individual has never been investigated. Given the substantial individual variance in resistance exercise training-induced changes in muscle mass and strength, this study is designed to quantify the relative influence that extrinsic training variables (e.g., load), as opposed to intrinsic muscle-based predisposition, has on resistance training-induced changes in muscle mass and muscle strength.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Each participant will come to the Exercise Metabolism Research Laboratory gym three times per week for 10 weeks to perform lower- and upper-body resistance exercise training with both relatively heavy- (~80% one repetition maximum [1RM]) and light- (~40 %1RM) loads. One arm and one leg will be randomized to lift with relatively heavy loads such that the other arm and leg will be randomized to lift with relatively light loads. Each workout will be supervised by a study investigator.

The time commitment of this study is 12 weeks (including pre- and post-study testing). Each workout to take 30 minutes and, with testing days included, the investigators foresee a total time commitment of 41 hours, or just under three and half hours per week.

The pre- and post-study measurements include muscle biopsies, dual x-ray absorptiometry scans, ultrasonography scans, 1RM assessment, and maximum voluntary contraction assessment. The muscle biopsies will be taken from each of the participant's vastus lateralis to assess muscle fibre cross sectional area in both legs during the beginning (four biopsies) and end (four biopsies) of the intervention. The dual x-ray absorptiometry scans are used to assess body composition and will be done pre- and post-intervention. The ultrasonography scans will be used to assess biceps brachii and vastus laterals thickness and cross sectional area. The ultrasound scans will be assessed during the beginning (four scans) and end (four scans) of the intervention. The 1RM assessment will include 1RM testing on a knee extension machine and biceps curl machine and will be done at the beginning and end of the intervention. The maximum voluntary contraction assessment will be performed on a System 3 Biodex Dynamometer (Shirley, NY, USA), which is an immovable machine that the participants contract against to measure their peak force. The maximum voluntary contractions will be recorded three times: twice at the beginning of the intervention and once at the end of the intervention.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1
        • Exercise Metabolism Research Laboratory, McMaster Univeristy

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 30 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Be between the ages of 18-30 years (inclusive)
  • Be able to maintain a habitual diet and perform resistance exercise three times per week throughout the trial
  • Be in general good health (assessed by Get Active Questionnaire)
  • Understand the study procedures and sign this form providing informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Use of tobacco or related products
  • A history of neuromuscular problems or muscle and/or bone wasting diseases
  • Any acute or chronic illness; cardiac, pulmonary, liver, or kidney abnormalities; insulin- or non-insulin-dependent diabetes or other metabolic disorders (all ascertained through medical questionnaires)
  • Use of medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (prescription use or daily use of over the counter medication), or prescription strength acne medications)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Higher Load
One arm and one leg were randomized (based on limb dominance) to perform unilateral biceps curls (arm) and knee extensions (leg) with relatively higher loads (80 % of their one-repetition maximum).
Behavioral: Unilateral resistance exercise
The participants performed three sets of their unilateral resistance exercise (biceps curls and knee extensions) three times per week for 10 weeks.
Experimental: Lower Load
The other arm and leg were randomized (based on limb dominance) to perform unilateral biceps curls (arm) and knee extensions (leg) with relatively higher loads (80 % of their one-repetition maximum).
Behavioral: Unilateral resistance exercise
The participants performed three sets of their unilateral resistance exercise (biceps curls and knee extensions) three times per week for 10 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in fat-free mass
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry pre- and post-training
up to 12 weeks
Change in vastus lateralis thickness
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Measured by ultrasonography pre- and post-training
up to 12 weeks
Change in vastus lateralis cross sectional area
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Measured by ultrasonography pre- and post-training
up to 12 weeks
Change in biceps brachii thickness
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Measured by ultrasonography pre- and post-training
up to 12 weeks
Change in biceps brachii cross sectional area
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Measured by ultrasonography pre- and post-training
up to 12 weeks
Change in muscle fibre cross sectional area
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Measured by muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis pre- and post-training
up to 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
McMaster University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Stuart Phillips, PhD, McMaster University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 5, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 5, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 17, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 19, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 20, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 20, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 19, 2019

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HIREB 4774

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

No individual participant data will be made available to other researchers

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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