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CompletedNCT03275779EXFREQUpdated Jan 5, 2023

Investigating the Role of Resistance Exercise Frequency in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass

An interventional study of Low Frequency Condition and High Frequency Condition in Physical Activity, sponsored by University of Birmingham. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-01-05.

Sponsored by University of Birmingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
9
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 35 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

This study will investigate whether manipulating resistance exercise frequency impacts muscle protein synthesis rates. The investigators will test the hypothesise that a higher resistance exercise frequency will result in greater muscle protein synthesis rates than a lower resistance exercise frequency.

Read the detailed description

Resistance exercise is currently the most effective means of building or maintaining muscle mass. Resistance exercise guidelines generally suggest that those looking to increase muscle mass should train each muscle group once to twice per week. However, it has been proposed that it may be of greater benefit to train a muscle group with a higher frequency (i.e., four to six times per week) than currently suggested. If true, completing the same total volume of resistance exercise in more frequent, smaller bouts could prove to be a more beneficial strategy to optimally build or maintain muscle mass.

Therefore, this study will investigate whether manipulating resistance exercise frequency impacts cumulative muscle protein synthesis rates in young individuals. Participants will undergo a 7 day period of habitual activity before completing the same total volume of resistance exercise as either; i) one isolated bout (low frequency) or ii) five smaller bouts (high frequency) over a period of 7 days.

02

Conditions studied

  • Physical Activity
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Body mass index (18.5-29.99 kg/m2)
  • Untrained - defined as: Perform activities of daily living and recreation but have completed no regular lower body resistance-type exercise (e.g., weight training) activity in the last year.
  • Good general health

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lidocaine allergy
  • Hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg)
  • Current participation in another clinical study
  • Previous participation in this study
  • Bleeding disorder/s
  • Current or recent smoker
  • Vegetarian or vegan
  • Past history of substance abuse and/or taking prescription or non-prescription medication (e.g., beta-blockers, insulin or thyroxine) or supplements that may influence normal metabolic responses.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
9 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Low Frequency Condition

    Participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise.

    Behavioral: Low Frequency Condition

  • Experimental
    High Frequency Condition

    Participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete the same total volume of resistance exercise as the low frequency condition as five smaller bouts of unilateral resistance exercise.

    Behavioral: High Frequency Condition

Interventions

  • BehavioralLow Frequency Condition

    Young, untrained participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise.

  • BehavioralHigh Frequency Condition

    Young, untrained participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete the same total volume of resistance exercise as the low frequency condition as five smaller bouts of unilateral resistance exercise.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in muscle protein synthesis (FSR %/day)

    The change in muscle protein synthesis rates (FSR %/day) from baseline will be determined between the low and high frequency conditions at days 10 and 15 using deuterium oxide (D2O).

    Time frame: At day 10 and 15.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in satellite cell response

    The change in acute satellite cell response will be determined in muscle samples following low and high frequency resistance exercise at days 10 and 15.

    Time frame: At day 10 and 15.

06

Study locations

1 site
  • School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham
    Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2TT, United Kingdom
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03275779
Lead sponsor
University of Birmingham
Collaborators
Maastricht University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 8, 2017
Start date
Jan 1, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 1, 2018
Completion
Dec 1, 2018
Last update
Jan 5, 2023

Study contacts

Gareth Wallis, PhD
principal investigator · University of Birmingham

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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