Investigating the Role of Resistance Exercise Frequency in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass

Physical Activity Clinical Trial

— EXFREQ  

Official title:

Investigating the Role of Resistance Exercise Frequency in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03275779
• Other study ID #: ERN_17-0997
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: December 2022
• Source: University of Birmingham
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will investigate whether manipulating resistance exercise frequency impacts muscle protein synthesis rates. The investigators will test the hypothesise that a higher resistance exercise frequency will result in greater muscle protein synthesis rates than a lower resistance exercise frequency.

Description:

Resistance exercise is currently the most effective means of building or maintaining muscle mass. Resistance exercise guidelines generally suggest that those looking to increase muscle mass should train each muscle group once to twice per week. However, it has been proposed that it may be of greater benefit to train a muscle group with a higher frequency (i.e., four to six times per week) than currently suggested. If true, completing the same total volume of resistance exercise in more frequent, smaller bouts could prove to be a more beneficial strategy to optimally build or maintain muscle mass.

Therefore, this study will investigate whether manipulating resistance exercise frequency impacts cumulative muscle protein synthesis rates in young individuals. Participants will undergo a 7 day period of habitual activity before completing the same total volume of resistance exercise as either; i) one isolated bout (low frequency) or ii) five smaller bouts (high frequency) over a period of 7 days.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 9
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: December 1, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index (18.5-29.99 kg/m2)

• Untrained - defined as: Perform activities of daily living and recreation but have completed no regular lower body resistance-type exercise (e.g., weight training) activity in the last year.

• Good general health

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lidocaine allergy

• Hypertension (=140/90 mmHg)

• Current participation in another clinical study

• Previous participation in this study

• Bleeding disorder/s

• Current or recent smoker

• Vegetarian or vegan

• Past history of substance abuse and/or taking prescription or non-prescription medication (e.g., beta-blockers, insulin or thyroxine) or supplements that may influence normal metabolic responses.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Physical Activity

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Low Frequency Condition
Young, untrained participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise.
• High Frequency Condition
Young, untrained participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete the same total volume of resistance exercise as the low frequency condition as five smaller bouts of unilateral resistance exercise.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham	Birmingham	West Midlands

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Birmingham	Maastricht University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in muscle protein synthesis (FSR %/day)	The change in muscle protein synthesis rates (FSR %/day) from baseline will be determined between the low and high frequency conditions at days 10 and 15 using deuterium oxide (D2O).	At day 10 and 15.
Secondary	Change in satellite cell response	The change in acute satellite cell response will be determined in muscle samples following low and high frequency resistance exercise at days 10 and 15.	At day 10 and 15.