Functional Changes and Power Training in Older Women. (F-POW)

November 5, 2020 updated by: Konstantina Katsoulis, University of Toronto

The Effects of Low-intensity Power Training on Strength, Power, and Functional Outcomes in Older, Community-dwelling Women.

Extending quality of life and attenuating functional decline is paramount in older adults. This study investigates the effects of low-intensity power-training in older women and its effects on functional outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Resistance training has gained popularity in aging interventions since it is effective in countering the loss of muscle mass and strength with senescence. Traditionally, strength training (ST) protocols for the elderly have involved relatively heavy loads (70-80% of maximum force) with the focus being on increasing strength. There is some evidence of increased function after strength training albeit with inconsistent reports in the literature. More recently, several studies have designed resistance training programs that aim to increase power rather than strength, since findings indicate that measures of power are better predictors of physical function than measures of strength. In other words, improving power may be more beneficial to the elderly who are susceptible to functional limitations, mobility disability, and dependency. Since it is difficult to produce a great deal of power with increasing intensities, and lifting heavy loads may not be relevant to everyday functioning in the elderly, studies have investigated training for improvements in power rather than the traditional improvements in strength.

The effects of power training (PT) versus ST on functional outcomes in older adults have varied, with some studies showing enhanced improvements in function, and others showing no difference in function compared to regular ST or compared to other interventions such as walking. Discrepancies might be the result of the variety of functional tests used, mode of training, variable frequency of sessions per week, differences in study length, and adults of varying functional status. It has been suggested that perhaps the standard 3-sessions-per-week frequency may not be optimal for the elderly. A previous investigation demonstrated that the effects from PT at 40% of the 1-repetition maximum (1RM: the highest amount that can be lifted once) in older adults was comparable to the effects from ST at 80% 1RM with improvements being similar between the two modes despite the lower daily ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) reported with PT (PT: RPE for leg press (12.2) and knee extension (14.6) vs ST: RPE for leg press (15.1) and knee extension (17)). Therefore, an 'easier' exercise training experience did not result in sacrifices in gains of strength and power. In theory, these factors (lighter loads, lower perceived exertions, similar strength and power gains) could affect adherence to exercise during and after a research-related exercise intervention has been completed and thus are important considerations in the design of a training program.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of low-intensity (40% 1RM) PT on functional outcomes in older women.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

Phase

  • 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
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2W6
        • Athletic Centre; 55 Harbord Street

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

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • females, 65 years of age
  • agree to the study protocol
  • give informed-consent to the proposed research study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • existing acute illness/disease (last six months)
  • diagnosed with myopathies
  • currently prescribed cardiovascular medications or drugs that may affect muscle mass and/or their response to exercise (thyroid medications, sedatives, beta blockers, some statins)
  • are diabetic
  • have uncontrolled hypertension
  • have been advised against participating in exercise by their doctor

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: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: FACTORIAL
  • Masking: SINGLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Once a week
Group 1 will be invited to perform resistance training exercise 1 day/week. After a 2-week familiarization phase, participants will engage in power training (40% of 1-repetition maximum) for 12 weeks. Instructions include telling participants to lift the weight concentrically 'as fast as possible', with a lowering phase (eccentric) of 2-3 seconds. Participants will perform 3 x 12-14 repetitions per exercise per session. Primarily lower body equipment will be used, including leg press, knee extension/flexion, hip extension/flexion, and calf-raises.
Other: power training
Resistance training machines with CAM devices will be used for training.
Other Names:
  • resistance training
  • high-speed training
  • high-velocity training
EXPERIMENTAL: Twice a week
Group 2 will be invited to perform resistance training exercise 2 days/week. After a 2-week familiarization phase, participants will engage in power training (40% of 1-repetition maximum) for 12 weeks. Instructions include telling participants to lift the weight concentrically 'as fast as possible', with a lowering phase (eccentric) of 2-3 seconds. Participants will perform 3 x 12-14 repetitions per exercise per session. Primarily lower body equipment will be used, including leg press, knee extension/flexion, hip extension/flexion, and calf-raises.
Other: power training
Resistance training machines with CAM devices will be used for training.
Other Names:
  • resistance training
  • high-speed training
  • high-velocity training
EXPERIMENTAL: Thrice a week
Group 3 will be invited to perform resistance training exercise 3 days/week. After a 2-week familiarization phase, participants will engage in power training (40% of 1-repetition maximum) for 12 weeks. Instructions include telling participants to lift the weight concentrically 'as fast as possible', with a lowering phase (eccentric) of 2-3 seconds. Participants will perform 3 x 12-14 repetitions per exercise per session. Primarily lower body equipment will be used, including leg press, knee extension/flexion, hip extension/flexion, and calf-raises.
Other: power training
Resistance training machines with CAM devices will be used for training.
Other Names:
  • resistance training
  • high-speed training
  • high-velocity training
NO_INTERVENTION: wait-control
Participants in this group will serve as controls prior to participating in power training in 1 of the above treatment groups. The control period will last as long as the exercise period, or 3 months. Controls will participate in the same testing time points as the exercisers (baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Stair-climb power
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
The time needed to ascend a flight of stairs, converted to power (using body-weight and stair height)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in 400-meter walk test
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
The time needed to walk 400 meters (back and forth along a 20 meter course)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in Short Physical Performance Battery
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
A short test of balance, walking, and chair stand ability
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in 30-second chair stand test
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
The number of chair stands possible in 30 seconds
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Toronto

Investigators

  • Study Director: Catherine E Amara, Ph.D, University of Toronto; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

September 1, 2015

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

July 16, 2018

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

July 16, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 17, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 19, 2015

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

August 21, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

November 9, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 5, 2020

Last Verified

November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 27773

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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