The goal of this randomized counterbalanced repeated measures study is to test beet-root juice supplementation and red light therapy augment forearm muscle endurance in apparently healthy older adults over 65 years of age. The main questions seek to answer the following question: Does beet-root juice supplementation improve forearm muscle endurance compared to a placebo supplement? Does red light therapy improve forearm muscle endurance compared to a sham light exposure? Does beet-root juice supplementation in combination with red light therapy improve forearm muscle endurance compared to a placebo-sham light control?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
10
Two days prior to the forearm endurance protocol, participants will be provided and instructed to consume a 400mg nitrate once per day. On the day of the forearm endurance protocol, the participants will be provided and instructed to consume a third 400mg dose of nitrates at least 150 minutes before forearm endurance testing.
Participants will place their dominant forearm 15 centimeters away from the light source and have their dominant forearm exposed to 660nm wave length light for 10-minutes.
Two days prior to the forearm endurance protocol, participants will be provided and instructed to consume a nitrate depleted placebo once per day. On the day of the forearm endurance protocol, the participants will be provided and instructed to consume a third dose of the nitrate depleted placebo at least 150 minutes before forearm endurance testing.
Participants will place their dominant forearm 15 centimeters away from the light source and have their dominant forearm exposed to sham light for 10-minutes.
Wake Forest Univesity
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
RECRUITINGTotal forearm work performed
Work is the product of the number of times the forearm is activated multiplied by the amount of force produced by the forearm in kilograms.
Time frame: During the forearm exercise fatigue protocol lasting up to 45 minutes
Forearm endurance
The duration of time the participant takes to complete the forearm fatigue protocol
Time frame: During the forearm exercise fatigue protocol lasting up to 45 minutes
Intermuscular coordination
Surface electromyography measurements of muscle activity
Time frame: During the forearm exercise fatigue protocol lasting up to 45 minutes
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