Effects of Resistance Strength Training on Functional Capacity and Well Being of Anorexic Patients

Effects of Resistance Strength Training on Functional Capacity and Well Being of Anorexic Patients; A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of the present randomized controlled trial was to determine the effects of a 3-month resistance training program (2 sessions/week) on the functional mobility and muscle function, muscular dynamic strength, body composition and quality of life of young anorexic outpatients (≤16 years). The investigators also assessed cardiorespiratory variables of clinical significance such as peak oxygen uptake.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anorexia
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Physical activity

Detailed Description

A total of 22 outpatients [20 female (Tanner stage II-IV), 2 male (Tanner stage IV); age range: 12-16 years] were finally eligible and thus participated in the study.

Participants in the intervention group were enrolled in two training sessions per week for 12 weeks. Each session lasted 60-70 min and started at ~11:30 a.m., after the intra-hospital psychotherapy session. The program was individually supervised, i.e. one instructor for every three patients.

Each session started and ended with a low intensity 10-15min warm-up and cool-down period respectively, consisting of stretching exercises involving all major muscle groups. The core portion of the training session consisted of 11 strength exercises engaging the major muscle groups, i.e. bench press, shoulder press, leg extension, leg press, leg curl, abdominal crunch, low back extension, arm curl, elbow extension, seated row and lateral pull-down. For each exercise, the participants performed one set of 8-15 repetitions (total of ~ 20s duration) with resting periods of 1-2 min between exercises. The load was gradually increased as the strength of each child improved, i.e. from 20-30% of 6 repetition maximum (6RM) at the start of the program to 50-60% of 6RM at the end. Stretching exercises of the muscles involved in the previous exercises were performed during the rest periods (21).

Participants also performed isometric contractions of large muscle groups (6 sets of 3 repetitions each, 20-30s duration per repetition) with their own body weight (for lower body exercises) or barbells (1-3kg) for upper body.

Outcome measures:

• Anthopometry
• Cardiorespiratory fitness
• Muscular strength
• Functional mobility
• Quality of life

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 35
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: No older than 16 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of restrictive anorexia nervosa
• Age ≤ 16 years
• Undergoing intra-hospital psychotherapy and dietary counseling (two visits per week) in this Hospital
• Body mass index > 14.0 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: 2

Behavioral: Physical activity; Participants in the intervention group were enrolled in two training sessions per week for 12 weeks. The core portion of the training session consisted of 11 strength exercises engaging the major muscle groups, i.e. bench press, shoulder press, leg extension, leg press, leg curl, abdominal crunch, low back extension, arm curl, elbow extension, seated row and lateral pull-down. For each exercise, the participants performed one set of 8-15 repetitions (total of ~ 20s duration) with resting periods of 1-2 min between exercises. The load was gradually increased as the strength of each child improved, i.e. from 20-30% of 6 repetition maximum (6RM) at the start of the program to 50-60% of 6RM at the end. Participants also performed isometric contractions of large muscle groups (6 sets of 3 repetitions each, 20-30s duration per repetition) with their own body weight (for lower body exercises) or barbells (1-3kg) for upper body.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Quality of life
Anthropometry
Functional mobility

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Muscular strength
Cardiorespiratory fitness

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad Europea de Madrid
• Collaborators: Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 26, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): January 27, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 27, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2009
• Last Verified: January 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Quality of life; Functional mobility; Anorexia; Strength training; Girls
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Anorexia
• Other Study ID Numbers: R-0034/08