Power Training Progression Methods

Comparison of Power Training Progression Methods in Older Independently Living Adults.

This study will investigate the impact of two unique progression models for power training in a sample of healthy older adults. The objective is to identify the most practical methodology for implementing power training, which is considered a critical marker of functional capacity in older populations.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Activity, Motor
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: RPE-Based Power Training; Behavioral: Power Plateau-Based Power Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 45
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Joseph F. Signorile, PhD; Phone Number: 3052843105; Email: jsignorile@miami.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Gabby J Gilbert, MS; Phone Number: 3052844173; Email: gxg743@miami.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 33147
      • Recruiting
      • Laboratory of Neruomuscular Research and Active Aging
      • Principal Investigator: Joseph Signorile, PhD
      • Contact: Joseph F. Signorile, PhD; Phone Number: 3052843105; Email: jsignorile@miami.edu
      • Contact: Gabby F Gilbert, MS; Phone Number: 305-284-4173; Email: gxg743@miami.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 50 - 90 years of age.
• Be able to walk 50m without any sort of assistance device.
• Be able to understand and communicate in English to properly conduct the training and testing processes.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled cardiovascular or neuromuscular disease that prevent participation in a training program.
• Any systemic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, or other serious concomitant medical illness.
• Unresolved injury or surgery to the upper or lower limbs that prevents weight training.
• - Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score below 18

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: RPE-Based Power Training; The RPE system will be based on movement speed with an unloaded condition producing maximal speed (RPE=10) and a 1RM producing minimal speed (RPE = 1). If RPE is above 5, loads will be increased by 5% for upper body exercises and 2.5% for lower body exercises. If the RPE = between 4 and 5 the load will remain unchanged. If RPE falls below 4, loads will be lowered using the same percentages.	Behavioral: RPE-Based Power Training; The RPE system will be based on movement speed with an unloaded condition producing maximal speed (RPE=10) and a 1RM producing minimal speed (RPE = 1). If RPE is above 5, loads will be increased by 5% for upper body exercises and 2.5% for lower body exercises. If the RPE = between 4 and 5 the load will remain unchanged. If RPE falls below 4, loads will be lowered using the same percentages.
Active Comparator: Power Plateau-Based Power Training; Following two training sessions, the average power for each exercise will be calculated. When average power increases by a minimum of 5% from session one to session two, the load will remain unchanged to continue to reap power improvements. When the average power does not increase by at least 5% from session one to two, the load will be increased by the same protocol described above. Loads will only decrease when subjects cannot complete all repetitions with adequate form.	Behavioral: Power Plateau-Based Power Training; Following two training sessions, the average power for each exercise will be calculated. When average power increases by a minimum of 5% from session one to session two, the load will remain unchanged to continue to reap power improvements. When the average power does not increase by at least 5% from session one to two, the load will be increased by the same protocol described above. Loads will only decrease when subjects cannot complete all repetitions with adequate form.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in neuromuscular performance as measured by Watts	This test measures the power a person can produce at maximal speed using loads of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 90% of 1RM for the chest press and leg press. Power shows how fast a person can do work. Unit of measure is Watts.	Baseline, 12 weeks
Change in neuromuscular performance as measured by 1-repetition maximum (1RM)	Maximal load that can be lifted in one repetition (1RM) will be assessed in both leg press and chest press exercises. The loads on the testing equipment will be increased across 5 to 7 testing repetitions. The persons 1RM will be the highest load the person can move through the range of motion of the exercise. There are no minimum or maximum scores for this test. The higher the 1RM the stronger the person is. The unit of measurement is kilograms.	Baseline, 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in the Speed of the Ten-Meter Walk Test.	The ten-meter walk test will be used to assess gait velocity. The participants will be asked to walk at usual walking speed and as quickly as possible in a straight line on a 10-m course marked at 0, 2, 8 and 10 m. On verbal command, participants will start on the 0-m mark and stop when the 10-m mark is crossed. The total time to ambulate from the 2-m mark to the 8-m mark (6 m total) will be timed to the hundredth of a second. Two trials will be performed at each speed, and the average will be documented in meters per second. One-minute recoveries will be provided between trials.	Baseline, 12 weeks
Change in Time for the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test.	The five-time sit-to-stand test will be used to assess functional lower body strength. The participant will sit with arms folded across the chest and the back against the chair. On a verbal command, the participant will stand up and sit down five times as quickly as possible. Timing begins at the word go and ends when the buttocks touch the chair after the fifth repetition. One practice and two testing trials will be performed. Time will be measured in seconds.	Baseline, 12 weeks
Change in the time required to complete the timed Up-and-Go Test.	Upon verbal cue, the subject stands up, walks around a cone placed three meters from the front edge of the chair and then returns to a seated position as quickly as possible. Time is measured in seconds.	Baseline, 12 weeks
Change in Distance of the Seated Medicine Ball Throw.	For the Seated Medicine Ball Throw, subjects will sit in an armless chair with the back against the chair back, while holding the 6-pound medicine ball against the chest. Subjects will then throw the ball at a perceived 45° angle as far as possible. Subjects must complete at least three practice trials; however, subjects will be allowed more trials until comfortable with the testing procedure. Upon starting the official trial, subjects will complete three separate attempts at each varying medicine ball, to nine trials in total. Each of the three trials within a given medicine ball test will be separated by a 1-minute rest. Distance will be measured in centimeters	Baseline, 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Miami
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joseph F. Signorile, PhD, University of Miami

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20251334

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No