Effects Resistance Training on Motor Control and Cognition

NCT ID: NCT03017365

Last Updated: 2018-02-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 82 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2017-04-01

Brief Summary

It is well documented that both balance and resistance training have the potential to mitigate intrinsic fall risk factors in older adults. Recently, it was shown that a simultaneously executed balance and resistance training, namely resistance training on uneven surfaces is an eligible, effective and safe alternative training program to mitigate intrinsic fall risk factors in older adults. However, knowledge about the effects of specific adductor and abductor training has advantages over traditional resistance training and resistance training on unstable surfaces regarding forward propulsion. Further, the effects of different kinds of resistance training on cognition, especially embodiment is investigated.

Detailed Description

Introduction: In the course of ageing, physical abilities decline and consequently there is an increase in risk of falling and fall incidences. Notwithstanding, the fact that causes of falls are multifactorial, losses in lower-extremity muscle strength, power and balance seem to be the most prominent intrinsic (i.e., person-related) fall risk factors in older adults. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses highlighted the positive effects of resistance and balance training when applied as a single means, on measures of leg muscle strength, power and balance in older adults. Recently, it was shown that a simultaneously executed balance and resistance training, namely resistance training on uneven surfaces is an eligible, effective and safe alternative training program to mitigate intrinsic fall risk factors in older adults. Based on several investigations, it can be safely assumed that exercises conducted on unstable devices activate smaller muscles and stabilising function of bigger muscle groups. This facilitates torque and power transfer from lower to upper extremeties and is possibly responsible for similar effects as compared to stable resistance training despite lower loads. However, it is unknown if resistance training targeting adductor and abductor muscles induces similar results as compared to resistance training conducted on uneven surfaces. Moreover, physical activity has proven to affect cognitive measures positively, especially executive functions. It has yet to be determined to what extent different kinds of resistance training affect executive functions.

Methods/Design: This study is a three-arm, 10-week RCT with a 10-week no-contact follow-up. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1) to either: 1) machine-based stable resistance training (M-SRT); 2) free-weight unstable resistance training (F-URT); 3) machine-based adductor and abductor resistance training. The design and reporting of this study follows the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 Statement for parallel group randomised trials.

Setting Participants are recruited from the communities in and around Kassel, Germany. Screening visits, measurement sessions, and the interventions are held at the Insitute of Sports and Sports Science / University of Kassel, Germany.

Recruitment strategies: Recruitment is carried out by placing 1) an advertisement in the local newspaper, 2) during a public information meeting at the local town hall and 3) word of mouth. Interested individuals contact the study coordinator by phone, where they are provided with a brief description of the study. If responses suggest study eligibility then interested individuals are invited to attend a formal in-person screening visit.

Participants:Older adults are eligible if they: 1) are aged between 65 and 80 years old 2) and able to walk independently for more than 10m. An a priori power analysis using G*Power 3.1 with an assumed type I error of .05 and a type II error of .10 (90% statistical power, correlation among groups: .5, nonsphericity correction: 1) was computed to determine an appropriate sample size to detect medium (.50 ≤ d ≤ .79) interaction effects. The calculations were based on a study assessing the effects of core strength training using unstable devices on older adults. The analysis revealed the requirement of 54 participants (18 per group) to obtain medium "time x group" interaction effects. Considering the likelihood of dropouts, at least 83 participants are going to be recruited to compensate for a possible dropout rate of ~20%.

Interventions: All intervention groups train for ten weeks, twice per week on non-consecutive days for 60 minutes each. The 10-week intervention period consistes of a one week introductory phase and three major training blocks lasting three weeks each. Training intensity is progressively and individually increased over the 10-week training program by modulating load and sets for all groups and level of instability for F-URT. After week one (50 %), four (60%), and seven (70%) the training load (weight) is increased following one repetition maximum (1-RM) testing for each major exercise. M-SRT followes a 'traditional' machine-based stable resistance training program, including squats with a smith-machine and a leg press. F-URT conducts squats and front lunges on unstable devices. M-ART uses adductor and abductor strength training machines. All three intervention groups conduct a resistance training program consisting of two main exercises, a preparation and cool-down phase. Participants perform ten minutes of low-intensity stepping on a stair-walker as a brief warm-up at the beginning of each training session, followed by the resistance exercises and walking on a treadmill as cool-down. Training under unstable surface conditions, especially with additional weight, implies a certain degree of accident risk. Due to this factor, all instability exercises are observed by instructors and secured with additional aids like boxes. Training is supervised by skilled instructors at all times. For the first two weeks the participant to instructor ratio will be 5:1, thereafter 10:1.

Outcome assessment: Outcomes are measured at baseline, 10 weeks (intervention endpoint) and 20 weeks (study endpoint). Measurement sessions are conducted on one day.

Baseline data: Baseline measurements are obtained prior to randomisation. In addition to the measurements described below, the following are also collected: demographic and general health characteristics; medical history and medications; anthropometrics and rate of falls / near falls.

Conditions

Muscle Weakness

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

M-SRT

Machine-based stable resistance training. Exercising 'traditional' machine-based resistance training.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Stable Resistance Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

traditional machine-based resistance training

F-URT

Free weight unstable resistance training; conducted free-weight resistance training on unstable devices using dumbbells instead of exercise-machines.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Unstable Resistance Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

free weight resistance training using unstable devices

M-ART

Machine-based adductor/abductor resistance training. Exercising with 'traditional' adductor/abductor machines.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Adductor/Abductor Resistance Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

machine-based adductor/abductor resistance training

Interventions

Stable Resistance Training

traditional machine-based resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Unstable Resistance Training

free weight resistance training using unstable devices

Intervention Type: OTHER

Adductor/Abductor Resistance Training

machine-based adductor/abductor resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• between 65 and 80 years old
• ability to walk independently without any gait aid

Exclusion Criteria

• pathological ratings of the Clock Drawing Test (CDT),
• Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE, < 24 points),
• Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I, > 24 points),
• Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS, > 9 points),
• Freiburg Questionnaire of Physical Activity (FQoPA, < 1hour)
• Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB-D, < 18 points)
• any neurological, musculoskeletal or heart-related disease

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Kassel

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Armin Kibele, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of Kassel

References

Eckardt N. Lower-extremity resistance training on unstable surfaces improves proxies of muscle strength, power and balance in healthy older adults: a randomised control trial. BMC Geriatr. 2016 Nov 24;16(1):191. doi: 10.1186/s12877-016-0366-3.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 27881086 (View on PubMed)

Granacher U, Muehlbauer T, Gruber M. A qualitative review of balance and strength performance in healthy older adults: impact for testing and training. J Aging Res. 2012;2012:708905. doi: 10.1155/2012/708905. Epub 2012 Jan 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 22315687 (View on PubMed)

Steadman J, Donaldson N, Kalra L. A randomized controlled trial of an enhanced balance training program to improve mobility and reduce falls in elderly patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Jun;51(6):847-52. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2389.2003.51268.x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 12757574 (View on PubMed)

Behm DG, Muehlbauer T, Kibele A, Granacher U. Effects of Strength Training Using Unstable Surfaces on Strength, Power and Balance Performance Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2015 Dec;45(12):1645-69. doi: 10.1007/s40279-015-0384-x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26359066 (View on PubMed)

Eckardt N, Rosenblatt NJ. Instability Resistance Training Decreases Motor Noise During Challenging Walking Tasks in Older Adults: A 10-Week Double-Blinded RCT. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019 Feb 27;11:32. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00032. eCollection 2019.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 30873017 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

KFPS17

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id