RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07522398

Acute Power Training Effects in Older Adults

Acute Neuromuscular and Physiological Responses to Different Velocity Loss Thresholds During Power Training in Older Adults

Sponsor

Hasselt University

Enrollment

42 participants

Start Date

Apr 20, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Muscle power Older Adults (65 Years and Older)Healthy Older Adults Physiological Responses Functional Performance Neuromuscular Function

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

Min Age: 65 YearsMax Age: 85 Years

Inclusion Criteria6

Participants must:
Be 65 to 85 years old.
Be able to live independently and perform everyday activities without help.
Not have regularly done resistance or strength training in the past year.
Be able to understand study instructions and communicate in the study language.
Have a recent statement from their treating physician confirming that their heart and blood vessels are healthy enough to safely take part in this study.

Exclusion Criteria9

Participants will not be eligible if they have any of the following:
Unstable heart disease, neurological disease, acute infection, or fever.
Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, in the 5 days before the study.
Use of whey protein, casein, or amino acid supplements in the month before the study.
Acute or chronic injuries to the legs or lower body muscles.
Any injury or condition that prevents safe leg extension exercises.
Recent lower-limb joint replacement (less than 6 months ago).
Dependence on walking aids.
Current participation in another interventional trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALPower Training at Different Fatigue Levels

Participants perform supervised power-training exercises on a pneumatic leg press. The sessions are designed to test different levels of fatigue: 1. In one session, participants stop the exercise set when their movement speed drops by 10%. 2. In another session, they stop when their movement speed drops by 30%. 3. In a third session, participants perform the same total work as the 30% session, but stop at 10% velocity loss. Each session lasts a single training bout (4 sets), and is separated from the next session by one week. During and after each session, researchers measure immediate and post 24h responses to the training in neuromuscular function, physiological responses (e.g., blood markers, muscle oxygenation), functional performance, perceived effort, and muscle soreness. This intervention is different from other exercise studies because it focuses on how varying fatigue levels during power training affect immediate performance and recovery in healthy older adults.