Aging is associated with a loss of muscle mass, termed sarcopenia, that reduces mobility, decreases physical function and accelerates progression of other age-related disorders. This study is designed to determine whether increasing skeletal muscle capillarization through aerobic exercise will enhance muscular adaptations to strength training in older adults with sarcopenia.
Sarcopenia, or the aging-related loss of muscle mass, affects a large number of older adults. The presence of sarcopenia is associated with physical disability, poor quality of life, and all-cause mortality, in part because sarcopenic adults have low muscle skeletal muscle capillarization and may lack the adequate perfusion needed to maintain muscle mass and function. This study will test the effects of increasing skeletal muscle capillarization through aerobic exercise training on responses to resistance training in older adults. Eligible participants will be randomized to one of two groups, resistance training preceded by aerobic exercise training (AEX-RT), or resistance training followed by aerobic exercise training (RT-AEX). Participants in the AEX-RT group will undergo 3 months of aerobic exercise training to increase skeletal muscle capillarization, followed by 3 months of resistance training. Participants in the RT-AEX group will undergo 3 months of resistance training, followed by 3 months of aerobic exercise training. Before and after the interventions, participants will undergo assessments of muscle size, strength, and capillarization, as well as assessments of physical function.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
14
3 months of center-based, supervised treadmill exercise
3 months of center-based, supervise strength training
University of Maryland, Baltimore & Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland, United States
Skeletal Muscle Capillarization
Change in the number of capillaries per unit of skeletal muscle tissue after resistance training. The aims of the study were to compare responses to resistance training between arms/groups. Therefore, only the resistance training-induced change (post minus pre-resistance training) is assessed and analyzed as this is the primary outcome for each arm.
Time frame: 3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)
Quadriceps Muscle Cross-sectional Area
Change in the size of the thigh muscles. The aims of the study were to compare responses to resistance training between arms/groups. Therefore, only the resistance training-induced change (post minus pre-resistance training) is assessed and analyzed as this is the primary outcome for each arm.
Time frame: 3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)
Skeletal Muscle Fiber Size
Change in the cross-sectional size of individual thigh skeletal muscle fibers. The aims of the study were to compare responses to resistance training between arms/groups. Therefore, only the resistance training-induced change (post minus pre-resistance training) is assessed and analyzed as this is the primary outcome for each arm.
Time frame: 3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)
Muscle Strength
Change in the strength/force produced by skeletal muscles of the thigh. Only the resistance training-induced change (post minus pre-resistance training) is reported as this is the primary outcome for each arm.
Time frame: 3 months (post minus pre-resistance training)
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