Acute Power Training Effects in Older Adults

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Power Training at Different Fatigue Levels: Participants perform supervised power-training exercise on a pneumatic leg press. Each participant completes three exercise sessions, each separated by approximately one week. In each session, participants perform 4 sets of leg press exercise under different fatigue conditions: A) Exercise sets are terminated when movement velocity decreases by 10%. B) Exercise sets are terminated when movement velocity decreases by 30%. C) Exercise sets are terminated at 10% velocity loss, with total work matched to the 30% condition.

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how older adults respond to power training when the level of fatigue during exercise is different. Power training means performing fast movements with moderate loads to improve strength, power and mobility.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

* How does the level of fatigue during power training acutely affect strength, movement, and muscle function?
* How does it affect recovery, muscle soreness, and how hard the exercise feels?

Researchers will compare three power-training sessions with different fatigue levels to see which approach may be safest and most effective for older adults.

Participants will be healthy older adults aged 65 to 85 years. Each participant will complete three supervised exercise sessions on a leg press machine. The sessions will take place about one week apart.

During the study, participants will:

* Perform power training on a pneumatic leg press machine
* Complete strength and mobility tests before and after exercise
* Provide small blood samples to measure body responses to exercise
* Rate how hard the exercise feels
* Report muscle soreness for up to two days after exercise

The results may help researchers design safer and more effective power-training programs to improve strength, mobility, and recovery in older adults.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) — Measurements will be taken before exercise (baseline), 5 minutes after each training session, and 24 hours after each session.
  Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) will be assessed to determine the maximum force-generating capacity of the leg extensors using an isokinetic dynamometer (Humac Norm). Simultaneously, muscle activity will be recorded using surface electromyography (EMG; Delsys EMG system). Primary outcome metric: Peak torque (Nm) obtained from three maximal isometric trials recorded on the dynamometer, combined with EMG amplitude (µV) to quantify muscle activation. Interpretation: Higher torque values indicate greater knee extensor strength. EMG amplitude reflects the level of muscle activation during maximal voluntary effort. Interpretation: Higher force values indicate greater leg muscle strength. EMG values indicate the level of muscle activation during the maximal effort.

Trial sites (1)

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