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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05722899

Football 4 Health in Middle-aged to Older Adults

Ageing in humans is accompanied by a progressive decline in lower-limb muscle power production. In addition to a decline in musculoskeletal fitness, ageing is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular and metabolic fitness. Therefore, if exercise interventions aim for a high impact on the overall health status of middle-aged and older adults, they should combine endurance, high-intensity interval training and muscular strengthening activities. Recreational football training combines all these training components, which implies that it could constitute an adequate training modality for participants of all ages. What remains to be investigated in more detail, is whether recreational football training can improve muscle power production in middle-aged to older adults and whether this potential improvement is present across the full force-velocity (F-V) profile. Next to a detailed analysis of the leg-extensor F-V profile as primary outcome, simultaneous effects on functional capacity, body composition and endurance exercise capacity were investigated. In addition, feasibility and the physical demands (internal and external load indicators) of the training program were tracked throughout the intervention period.

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Key information

Conditions

Exercise Training

Age range

55 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Movement Sciences

Leuven, 3001, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Exclusion criteria

  • Unstable cardiovascular disease
  • Neurological disorders
  • Cognitive malfunctioning
  • Acute infections or fever
  • Severe musculoskeletal problems
  • Systematic engagement in (resistance) exercise in the 12 months prior to participation

Treatment and study plan

Football training

Other

10-week progressive football training with small-sided games, 2x/week, 45min-1h sessions

Primary outcomes

  1. Maximal power

    Time frame: Time Frame: Change from baseline in maximal power (watt) at 12 weeks

    Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. Maximal power is used for the analyses.

  2. Maximal force

    Time frame: Time Frame: Change from baseline in maximal force (N) at 12 weeks

    Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. Maximal force is used for the analyses.

  3. Maximal velocity

    Time frame: Time Frame: Change from baseline in maximal velocity (m/s) at 12 weeks

    Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. Maximal velocity is used for the analyses.

  4. Slope of F-V profile

    Time frame: Time Frame: Change from baseline in the slope of F-V profile at 12 weeks

    Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. The equation's slope is used for the analyses.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Exercise adherence

    Time frame: Total adherence over 10-week period

    Number of sessions attended as a percentage of total sessions planned

  2. Enjoyment

    Time frame: within 1 week post-intervention

    Question: 'How much did you enjoy the training program?' Answer: 11-point Likert scale (0 = 'not at all...' to 10 = 'very...'

  3. Score on feasibility questionnaire

    Time frame: within 1 week post-intervention

    Question: 'How feasible was the training program for you?' Answer: 11-point Likert scale (0 = 'not at all...' to 10 = 'very...'

  4. Future intention to participate

    Time frame: within 1 week post-intervention

    Question: 'How high is the chance that you subscribe for a new sequence of training sessions?' Answer: 11-point Likert scale (0 = 'not at all...' to 10 = 'very...'

  5. External load: total distance

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Total distance covered per training session, measured by means of GPS metrics

  6. External load: meters in speed zones

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Total meters in different speed zones per training session, measured by means of GPS metrics

  7. Internal load: time in speed zones

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Total time in different speed zones per training session, measured by means of GPS metrics

  8. External load: number of accelerations

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Number of accelerations (> 2m/s²), measured by means of GPS metrics

  9. External load: number of decelerations

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Number of decelerations (< -2m/s²), measured by means of GPS metrics

  10. Internal load: average heart rate

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Average heart rate (percent of heart rate max) during training session, measured by means of heart rate sensor

  11. Internal load: time in heart rate zone

    Time frame: Average calculated over 10-week period

    Total time in different heart rate zones per training session, measured by means of heart rate sensor

  12. Gait speed

    Time frame: Change from baseline in gait speed at 10 weeks

    The average speed to walk 10m as fast as possible (in m/s)

  13. Countermovement jump height

    Time frame: Change from baseline in countermovement jump height at 10 weeks

    Jump height (cm) in a countermovement jump

  14. Timed up and go

    Time frame: Change from baseline in timed up and go time at 10 weeks

    Time (in s) needed to stand up from a chair, walk 3 m, turn, walk back and sit down again (as fast as possible)

  15. 5-repetition sit-to-stand time

    Time frame: Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 10 weeks

    The time (s) needed to perform 5 sit-to-stand transitions.

  16. 5-repetition sit-to-stand power

    Time frame: Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 10 weeks

    The power (watt) needed to perform 5 sit-to-stand transitions.

  17. Stair ascent time

    Time frame: Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 10 weeks

    The time (s) needed to ascend a flight of stairs.

  18. Stair ascent power

    Time frame: Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 10 weeks

    The power (watt) needed to ascend a flight of stairs.

  19. Body fat percentage

    Time frame: Change from baseline in body fat percentage at 10 weeks

    Percentage of body fat, measured with bio-electrical impedance analysis

  20. Skeletal muscle mass

    Time frame: Change from baseline in skeletal muscle mass at 10 weeks

    Skeletal muscle mass, estimated with bio-electrical impedance analysis

  21. Running speed at 2mM lactate

    Time frame: Change from baseline in running speed at 10 weeks

    Endurance exercise capacity test on treadmill: running speed at 2mM lactate value

  22. Running speed at 4mM lactate

    Time frame: Change from baseline in running speed at 10 weeks

    Endurance exercise capacity test on treadmill: running speed at 4mM lactate value

  23. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE)

    Time frame: Change from baseline in RPE at 10 weeks

    RPE of the common highest intensity block, completed in the pre- as well as post-intervention test (i.e., values at the same speed level in both tests)

  24. Lactate value

    Time frame: Change from baseline in lactate at 10 weeks

    Lactate value of the common highest intensity block, completed in the pre- as well as post-intervention test (i.e., values at the same speed level in both tests)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

KU Leuven

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Ten Weeks of Recreational Football Training in 55- to 70-year-old Adults: Effects on Muscle Power, Functional Capacity, Body Composition and Endurance Exercise Capacity

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Feb 10, 2023
Registry last updated
Feb 10, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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