Plyometric Exercise to Improve Rapid Force Production in Older Men

Exercise Training Clinical Trial

Official title:

Plyometric Exercise to Improve Rapid Force Production in Older Men: a Pilot Intervention

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03645772
• Other study ID #: S60983
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 29, 2018
• Est. completion date: June 19, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: August 2018
• Source: KU Leuven
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Rapid force production declines as a consequence of ageing. Given the functional relevance of rapid force production, exercise interventions in older adults should aim at improving the capacity to produce force rapidly. To improve this capacity, exercises should be performed with the intention to develop high speeds, as supported by previous work.

Human locomotion fundamentally consists of multi-joint movements and rapidly coupled eccentric-concentric muscle actions, known as stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) activities or plyometrics. Plyometrics might therefore be used to optimize power production. However, there is limited research on the feasibility of plyometrics in older adults and its potential effects on rapid force production and functional capacity. This study will test the feasibility of a 12-week plyometric exercise intervention in older men and compare its effects on rapid force production to a traditional resistance exercise or walking intervention.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 42
• Est. completion date: June 19, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: June 19, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 65 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria:

• No systematic engagement in (resistance) exercise in the 12-months prior to participation

• Cardiovascular disease

• Neurological disorders

• Cognitive malfunctioning

• Severe knee or hip problems

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Exercise Training

Intervention

Other:
• Exercise intervention
12-week progressive training intervention

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Belgium	Department of Movement Sciences	Leuven

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
KU Leuven

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Belgium, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Rapid force production	Subjects perform a test protocol on a sledge apparatus, consisting of explosive isometric voluntary contractions for the leg-extensor muscles of the right leg. The inclination of the sledge is 20° to horizontal. The seat of the sledge is inclined backwards (130°). The knee joint angle is set at 90° and the hip angle at 70°. The point of force application is aligned with the head of the fifth metatarsal. Subjects are instructed to kick as fast and as hard as possible and maintain their maximum force for approximately 3s. The rate of force development (N/s) is defined as the linear slope of the force-time curve and is measured from the onset of movement till 100 ms.	Change from baseline in rapid force production at 12 weeks
Primary	Jumping height in squat jump	Subjects perform a test protocol on a sledge apparatus, consisting of squat jumps (SJ), countermovement jumps (CMJ), and drop jumps (DJ). The inclination of the sledge is 20° to horizontal. The seat of the sledge is inclined backwards (130°). A force platform is built in perpendicular to the jumping direction. A speed sensor is attached to the seat of the sledge, which is used to assess the transition point between braking and push-off phases and to calculate jumping height (in cm).	Change from baseline in jumping height at 12 weeks
Primary	Jumping height in countermovement jump	Subjects perform a test protocol on a sledge apparatus, consisting of squat jumps (SJ), countermovement jumps (CMJ), and drop jumps (DJ). The inclination of the sledge is 20° to horizontal. The seat of the sledge is inclined backwards (130°). A force platform is built in perpendicular to the jumping direction. A speed sensor is attached to the seat of the sledge, which is used to assess the transition point between braking and push-off phases and to calculate jumping height (in cm).	Change from baseline in jumping height at 12 weeks
Primary	Jumping height in drop jump	Subjects perform a test protocol on a sledge apparatus, consisting of squat jumps (SJ), countermovement jumps (CMJ), and drop jumps (DJ). The inclination of the sledge is 20° to horizontal. The seat of the sledge is inclined backwards (130°). A force platform is built in perpendicular to the jumping direction. A speed sensor is attached to the seat of the sledge, which is used to assess the transition point between braking and push-off phases and to calculate jumping height (in cm).	Change from baseline in jumping height at 12 weeks
Secondary	Leg press one-repetition maximum	Leg press one-repetition maximum is defined as the maximum weight (in kg) that the subject can push on a leg press device (Signature Series Leg press Life Fitness).	Change from baseline in leg press 1-RM at 12 weeks
Secondary	Maximal isometric strength	Maximal strength (Nm) is measured by means of unilateral isometric knee-extensor tests on a Biodex dynamometer.	Change from baseline in maximal isometric strength at 12 weeks
Secondary	Maximal isokinetic strength	Maximal strength (Nm) is measured by means of unilateral isokinetic knee-extensor tests on a Biodex dynamometer.	Change from baseline in maximal isokinetic strength at 12 weeks
Secondary	Stair Climbing performance	Stair ascent duration (in s), the time needed to ascent a flight of stairs.	Change from baseline in Stair Climbing performance at 12 weeks
Secondary	Gait speed	The average speed to walk 10m as fast as possible (in m/s).	Change from baseline in gait speed at 12 weeks
Secondary	5 repetition sit-to-stand test	The time needed to perform 5 sit-to-stand transitions (in s).	Change from baseline in sit-to-stand duration at 12 weeks
Secondary	6 minute walk distance	The walk distance (in m) covered in 6 min.	Change from baseline in 6min walk distance at 12 weeks
Secondary	Balance	Overall balance performance is assessed using the total length of the sway path divided by duration of the measurement (mm/s) in a 30s balance test on a balance board.	Change from baseline in balance at 12 weeks