One Year of Velocity-based Resistance Training in Older People Living in Nursing Homes

One Year of Velocity-based Resistance Training in Older People Living in Nursing Homes: Effects on Skeletal Muscle Mass, Muscle Function, and Physical and Cognitive Function

This study is an exercise intervention assessing the efficacy of a velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) in institutionalized older adults.

The aim of this study is to assess the effects of one year of velocity-based resistance training on skeletal muscle mass, muscle function, and physical and cognitive function in older adults living in nursing homes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aging; Cognitive Function; Frailty Syndrome; Muscle Power; Muscle Mass and Strength
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise

Detailed Description

Evidence supports the fact that resistance exercise training is effective in improving old adult's health and palliate age-related disorders. New approaches in resistance training are emerging to maximize monitoring control, providing more tailored and potentially more effective exercise interventions. Among them, the velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) is being established in healthy populations or populations with pathologies. However, the effects of long-term VBRT in institutionalized older adults are still unknown.

Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of one year of velocity-based resistance training on skeletal muscle mass, muscle function, and physical and cognitive function in older adults living in nursing homes.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 27
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Toledo
    • Toledo, Toledo, Spain, 45071
      • University of Castilla-La Mancha

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Older people living permanently in nursing home.
• Age ≥ 65 years old.
• Are able to walk with/without assistance.
• Have ability to communicate with the research team.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Terminal illness.
• Any illness not controled (cardiac, pulmonary, etc).
• If there is a risk of bone fracture according to medical staff.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Exercise Group; a 2-day-a-week resistance training (RT) routine using the velocity-based method in the leg press exercise at 60% of the theoretical maximal isometric strength

Other: Exercise; All participants will conduct a 2-day-a-week resistance training (RT) routine using the velocity-based method in the leg press exercise for one year. A tailored and constant intensity will be performed at 60% of the theoretical maximal isometric strength (F0) during the training intervention. Participants will conduct 3-4 sets, individualizing the repetitions numbers until they reach a velocity loss of 10-20%. A rest of 2 minutes was imposed between sets. A standardized warm-up will preced all RT session as follows: 4 minutes walking at usual gait speed and 6 minutes performing dynamic balance exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in muscle power	Muscle power assessed in leg press machine and sit to stand test.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).
Changes in neuromuscular performance of lower-body	Change in the force-velocity relationship in leg press exercise.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in physical function based on the Short Physical Performance Battery score	The Short Physical Performance Battery score ranges from 0 to 12 points. Higher scores indicate better physical function, while lower scores reflect poorer physical function.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).
Change in frailty (score) using Fried's Frailty Criteria and Frailty Trait Scale - Short Form	Fried's frailty phenotype based on five criteria (habitual gait speed, handgrip strength , involuntary weight loss, exhaustion and low physical activity). The score ranges from 0 to 5, where each criterion met counts as one point. A score of 0 indicates best status, while a score of 5 indicates worst status. Frailty Trait Scale - Short Form evaluates 5 domains, including body mass index, physical activity, static balance, habitual gait speed and handgrip strength. The score ranges from 0 to 50, where each criterion met counts as one point. A score of 0 indicates best status, while a score of 50 indicates worst status.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).
Change in muscle mass using ultrasonography.	Muscle Cross-sectional area quadriceps femoris were assessed using ultrasonography.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).
Change in disability using Barthel and Lawton scales	The Lawton scale assesses the ability to use the telephone, shopping, cooking, household duties, laundry, use of transportation, responsibility for their medication and handling of economic matters. Each item is assigned a numerical value (1 = independent, 0 = dependent), therefore, the maximum dependence would be marked by obtaining 0 points (worst) and total independence by obtaining 8 points (best). The Barthel index is a 10-item questionnaire that provides information about the autonomy to cook food, wash, dress, groom, perform bowel movements and urination, go to the toilet, move from the bed to the chair, walk and climb stair.The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater independence (best), and lower scores indicating higher levels of dependence in basic daily activities (worst).	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).
Change in cognitive function using Mini-Mental State Examination	Mini-Mental State Examination score ranges from 0 to 30 points. A higher score indicates better cognitive function, while a lower score reflects greater cognitive impairment.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).
Change in handgrip strength	Change in maximum voluntary isometric handgrip strength, measured using a digital dynamometer.	T0 (baseline); T1 (post 6 weeks); T2 (post 12 weeks); T3 (post 23 weeks) and T4 (post 39 weeks).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Castilla-La Mancha
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Julian Alcazar, PhD, University of Castilla-La Mancha

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 30, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): June 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Frailty; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: 710P

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No