Effects of Overload Eccentric and Concentric Resistance Training on the Cost of Walking, Muscle-tendon and Jumping Performance in Healthy Older Individuals

NCT ID: NCT06838481

Last Updated: 2025-02-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-05-15
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-15

Brief Summary

Normal aging leads to a decline in neuromuscular and mobility functions, including a 60% reduction in maximal voluntary force production, a 25% decrease in muscle volume and quality (sarcopenia), and reduced tendon stiffness by age 70. These changes impair walking speed, balance, and increase the metabolic cost of walking by ~20% in older adults compared to younger individuals. While walking training can reduce metabolic costs, no interventions have successfully addressed the 20% age-related difference. Resistance training, particularly eccentric (muscle-lengthening) training, shows promise for improving muscle strength and mass, but its effects on functional, cognitive abilities, and walking economy in older adults remain unexplored.

Detailed Description

Normal aging is characterized by a decline in neuromuscular and mobility functions. By the age of 70, maximal voluntary force production decreases by approximately 60%, accompanied by a ~25% reduction in muscle volume and quality, leading to sarcopenia. Alongside changes in muscle protein content, composition, and mitochondrial biochemistry, aging also affects tendon properties. While healthy aging does not significantly alter tendon size, it reduces tendon stiffness, which can delay force transmission. These changes in muscle-tendon function contribute to slower walking speeds and impaired static and dynamic balance.

One of the most significant functional changes with aging is the increased metabolic cost of walking. Older individuals require ~20% more metabolic energy to walk the same distance as younger adults, yet the underlying reasons remain unclear. While walking training has been shown to reduce metabolic costs in older adults, no studies have attempted to reduce this 20% age-related difference using alternative interventions.

Resistance training induces adaptations in muscle-tendon function by requiring participants to overcome external loads. Traditional resistance training combines concentric (muscle shortening) and eccentric (muscle lengthening) contractions, but eccentric training has received increasing attention due to its superior benefits in muscle strength and mass improvement. However, no studies have examined how resistance training, particularly with an eccentric focus, impacts functional and cognitive abilities or walking economy in older adults.

Objectives:

This study aims to:

1. Investigate the effects of resistance training, particularly eccentric-focused training, on muscle-tendon function and walking economy in older adults.

2. Examine whether these changes translate into improved neuromuscular and cognitive functions.

3. Determine if improved tendon stiffness leads to more efficient force transmission, reducing walking energy expenditure.

Conditions

Healthy Older Adults

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Concentric overload resistance training

Receive Concentric overload resistance training

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Concentric overload resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

• Resistance training groups will train 2-3 times per week for 3 months using specialized TechnoGym machines.
• Exercises include Concentric leg press, knee extension, and ankle plantarflexion in a progressive loading program following American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) & National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines.
• Heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion will be monitored during each session.

Eccentric overload resistance training

Receive Eccentric overload resistance training

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Eccentric overload resistance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

• Resistance training groups will train 2-3 times per week for 3 months using specialized TechnoGym machines.
• Exercises include Eccentric leg press, knee extension, and ankle plantarflexion in a progressive loading program following American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) & National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines.
• Heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion will be monitored during each session.

Active control group

walking intervention

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Active Control

Intervention Type: OTHER

Walking

Interventions

Concentric overload resistance training

• Resistance training groups will train 2-3 times per week for 3 months using specialized TechnoGym machines.
• Exercises include Concentric leg press, knee extension, and ankle plantarflexion in a progressive loading program following American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) & National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines.
• Heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion will be monitored during each session.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eccentric overload resistance training

• Resistance training groups will train 2-3 times per week for 3 months using specialized TechnoGym machines.
• Exercises include Eccentric leg press, knee extension, and ankle plantarflexion in a progressive loading program following American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) & National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines.
• Heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion will be monitored during each session.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Active Control

Walking

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

active control

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• • Healthy men and women aged 60+ (intervention study).

• No significant cognitive or cardiovascular impairments.

Exclusion Criteria

• • Acute injuries or history of severe tendon injuries (Achilles or patellar tendon rupture).

• Tendinopathy or chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
• Hypertension, unless controlled with medication.
• Neurological or psychiatric disorders (dementia, mild cognitive impairment).
• Metabolic diseases affecting muscle/tendon function,

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Hungarian University of Sports Science

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Semmelweis University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Responsible Party

Mohamed Abdelaziz Emam

PhD Student Semmelweis University

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Prof. DR. Tibor Hortobágyi Hortobágyi

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hungarian University of Sports Science, Department of Kinesioogy, Budapest, Hungary

Locations

Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, Hungary

Budapest XII., Budapest, Hungary

Countries

Hungary

References

Malatesta D, Canepa M, Menendez Fernandez A. The effect of treadmill and overground walking on preferred walking speed and gait kinematics in healthy, physically active older adults. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017 Sep;117(9):1833-1843. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3672-3. Epub 2017 Jul 7.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28687953 (View on PubMed)

Thomas EE, De Vito G, Macaluso A. Speed training with body weight unloading improves walking energy cost and maximal speed in 75- to 85-year-old healthy women. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Nov;103(5):1598-603. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00399.2007. Epub 2007 Sep 6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 17823302 (View on PubMed)

Valenti G, Bonomi AG, Westerterp KR. Multicomponent Fitness Training Improves Walking Economy in Older Adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016 Jul;48(7):1365-70. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000893.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26848888 (View on PubMed)

Hunter GR, Fisher G, Neumeier WH, Carter SJ, Plaisance EP. Exercise Training and Energy Expenditure following Weight Loss. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 Sep;47(9):1950-7. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000622.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 25606816 (View on PubMed)

Hunter GR, McCarthy JP, Bryan DR, Zuckerman PA, Bamman MM, Byrne NM. Increased strength and decreased flexibility are related to reduced oxygen cost of walking. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Nov;104(5):895-901. doi: 10.1007/s00421-008-0846-z. Epub 2008 Aug 29.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 18758805 (View on PubMed)

Godges JJ, MacRae PG, Engelke KA. Effects of exercise on hip range of motion, trunk muscle performance, and gait economy. Phys Ther. 1993 Jul;73(7):468-77. doi: 10.1093/ptj/73.7.468.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8316580 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

TE-KEB/No11/2024

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

TE-KEB/No11/2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id