Optimizing Strength Training in Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT06812143

Last Updated: 2025-07-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 68 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-02-05
• Study Completion Date: 2027-01-25

Brief Summary

The objective of the current study is to determine whether lifting lighter loads close to failure improves strength training adaptations and function in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. The effect of light loads on physical function

2. The effect of light loads on muscle mass, power, and strength

Researchers will compare a light-load, high-repetition program to a standard strength training program. Participants will perform supervised strength training twice per week for 20 weeks.

Conditions

Aging

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Light Load, High Repetition (LLHR)

The LLHR group will perform a full-body routine with lighter weights, performing 16-20 repetitions per set, close to failure.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Strength training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This intervention involves strength training with lighter loads and higher repetitions.

Strength Training (ST)

The ST group will perform a full-body routine with higher weights, performing 8-12 repetitions per set, close to failure.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Strength training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This intervention involves conventional strength training with higher loads and moderate repetitions.

Interventions

Strength training

This intervention involves strength training with lighter loads and higher repetitions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Strength training

This intervention involves conventional strength training with higher loads and moderate repetitions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Resistance training; Weight training; Resistance trainig; Weight training

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Males and females aged 65 years and above
• Inactive lifestyle (< 150 min per week of moderate intensity physical activity) and not regularly participating in a structured strength training program
• Planning to reside in the area for the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe cardiac disease, including Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina
• Lung disease requiring either oral or injected steroids, or the use of supplemental oxygen
• Short, portable mental status questionnaire with 3 or more errors
• Severe arthritis (either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
• Cancer requiring treatment in the past 1 year (melanomas excluded)
• Development of chest pain or severe shortness of breath during the 6 min self-paced walk test
• Parkinson's disease or other serious neurological disorders
• Renal disease requiring dialysis
• Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder
• Current consumption of more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week
• Severe lower back or shoulder pain that may worsen with weightlifting exercises
• Undergoing physical therapy involving the lower extremities
• Living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or other similar institutions
• Currently enrolled in another randomized trial involving a pharmaceutical or lifestyle intervention
• Weight change (intentional or not) over the last 6 months of > 5% of body weight, or plan to lose or gain weight during the study
• Any other cardiovascular, pulmonary, orthopedic, neurologic, or other conditions that would preclude participation and successful completion of the protocol

• Severe hypertension, e.g., SBP > 200 mm Hg, DBP > 110 mm Hg
• Major surgery or fracture or hip/knee replacement within the last 6 months
• Hospitalization within the last 6 months (excluding ER visits)

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

Sponsors

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Queens College, The City University of New York

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Anoop T Balachandran

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Exercise & Aging Lab, Queens College

Flushing, New York, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Anoop T Balachandran, PhD

Role: CONTACT

athozhuthungalba@qc.cuny.edu

718-997-2729

Facility Contacts

Anoop T Balachandran

Role: primary

athozhuthungalba@qc.cuny.edu

718-570-0639

References

T Balachandran A, Wang Y, Szabo F, Watts-Battey C, Schoenfeld BJ, Zenko Z, Quiles N. Comparison of traditional vs. lighter load strength training on fat-free mass, strength, power and affective responses in middle and older-aged adults: A pilot randomized trial. Exp Gerontol. 2023 Jul;178:112219. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112219. Epub 2023 May 30.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 37236327 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

1R15AG085170-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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R15AG085170

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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