The Umeå High-Intensity Training Study (Umeå HIT)

Umeå University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aged

Treatments: Other: Moderate-intensity continuous training; Other: High-intensity training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03765385

Dnr 2018-307-31M

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effect of high-intensity training (HIT) in older sedentary people. Seventy older people, aged 65 and over, will be randomized to HIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). HIT sessions will consist of 10 repeated 6-seconds regulated high intensity cycling sprints against an individualized load. MICT (control group) sessions will consist of aerobic training regulated against an individualized load set to reach a moderate submaximal exercise intensity. Both groups will be performed twice weekly for 12 weeks. The study will evaluate the effects on 1) Cardiovascular function, 2) Brain health, 3) Muscular function, 4) Psychological health, 5) Physical activity, 6) Metabolic health, and 7) Examine the feasibility (attendance, achieved intensity, adverse events) as well as the experiences of HIT. Most outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3 months (directly after intervention period), and 9 months by blinded assessors.

Full description

Information about modifications of the study protocol (September 2020): Experiences of exercising and its effects were at the 9-month follow-up collected through individual interviews instead of focus group interviews (secondary outcome measures no. 31). Due to Covid-19, at the 9-month follow-up all outcome measurements besides the questionnaire (secondary outcome measures no 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14) and interviews (secondary outcome measure no 31) were terminated for 37 of the participants.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Not regularly physically active at moderate or high intensity over the last year.
• Independent in activities of daily living (ADL) and able to transfer from home to exercise facility.

Exclusion criteria

• Chronic and progressive neurological diseases.
• Movement related conditions and functions (e.g. pain) or heart and lung conditions and diseases that prohibit exercise or tests, based on screening by a physician.
• Cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score below 27)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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68 participants in 2 patient groups

High-intensity training

Experimental group

Description:

Each high-intensity training (HIT) session will consist of 10 repeated 6-seconds regulated high intensity cycling sprints against an individualized load set to reach a supramaximal exercise intensity (i.e. power output is higher than power output at maximum oxygen uptake). Session duration for HIT is 20 min, including warm-up and cool-down. The protocol enables controlled and systematic adjustments of training intensity by means of standardized criteria.

Treatment:

Other: High-intensity training

Moderate-intensity continuous training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Each moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) session will consist of aerobic training regulated against an individualized load set to reach a moderate submaximal exercise intensity (i.e. power output is lower than power output at maximum oxygen uptake). Session duration for MICT is 40 min, including warm-up and cool-down. The protocol enables controlled and systematic adjustments of training intensity by means of standardized criteria.

Treatment:

Other: Moderate-intensity continuous training