Plyometric Exercise to Improve Rapid Force Production in Older Men

Catholic University (KU) of Leuven

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exercise Training

Treatments: Other: Exercise intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03645772

S60983

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 42 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 65 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

42 participants in 3 patient groups

Plyometric exercise

Experimental group

Description:

12-week progressive exercise program, consisting of plyometric exercises such as countermovement jump, forward and sideways step-up.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise intervention

Resistance exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

12-week resistance exercise program for the leg muscles (2-4 sets of 8-15 repetitions at 8-15RM, leg press, leg extension, calve extension).

Treatment:

Other: Exercise intervention

Walking

Active Comparator group

Description:

12-week progressive walking program.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise intervention