Exercise Training for Aging

(STRRIDE IV Trial)

Overseen By Leanna M Ross, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Duke University

Must be taking: Cardiometabolic medications

Must not be taking: Nicotine products

Disqualifiers: Tobacco use, Insulin-dependent diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 24 weeks

26 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how aging affects physical fitness and resilience, particularly after regular exercise. Participants will engage in a six-month aerobic exercise program, with different groups trying varying amounts and intensities, such as high or moderate intensity workouts. The goal is to assess how these exercise routines impact older adults who have exercised in the past. It suits those who participated in the STRRIDE-PD study, maintain stable cardiometabolic medications, and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 45. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the benefits of exercise on aging, potentially improving health outcomes for older adults.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you must be on a stable dose of any cardiometabolic medications for at least one month to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that low and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is generally safe for older adults. Studies have found that even more intense exercises usually pose low risk when done properly. Therefore, the High/Mod and Low/Mod exercise plans in this trial should be manageable for most people.

For the High/Vig plan, studies suggest that vigorous exercise can improve health, such as boosting heart health. However, a higher risk of problems may exist for those with pre-existing health issues. Participants should understand their own health and consult a doctor about any concerns before starting this type of exercise.

Overall, exercise at these levels is usually safe for older adults, especially if they are healthy and have been cleared by a doctor. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the exercise training approach for aging because it explores the impact of different exercise intensities and durations on health in older adults. Unlike standard care that might include general recommendations for moderate exercise, this trial examines specific combinations: high amount/vigorous intensity, high amount/moderate intensity, and low amount/moderate intensity aerobic exercise. This could reveal optimal exercise regimens that improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall well-being in aging populations. By tailoring exercise programs more precisely, the trial may uncover strategies that maximize health benefits and enhance quality of life for seniors.

What evidence suggests that this trial's exercise interventions could be effective for aging?

This trial will compare different exercise regimens for older adults. Research has shown that regular aerobic exercise can greatly benefit this population. Participants in the High Amount/Vigorous Intensity (High/Vig) arm may experience improved fitness levels, with studies noting a 15%–20% increase in the body's ability to use oxygen during exercise. This type of exercise also helps increase daily activity. Those in the High Amount/Moderate Intensity (High/Mod) arm may see a lowered risk of death from any cause by 26% to 31% when exceeding recommended levels. Meanwhile, participants in the Low Amount/Moderate Intensity (Low/Mod) arm may benefit from better fitness and faster walking speeds. Each type of exercise in this trial aims to improve health and resilience in older adults. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Leanna M Ross, PhD

Principal Investigator

Duke University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults who previously completed the STRRIDE-PD exercise program. Participants should have a BMI between 18 and 45 kg/m2 and be on a stable dose of any cardiometabolic medications for at least one month.

Inclusion Criteria

I participated in the STRRIDE-PD trial.

My BMI is between 18 and 45.

I have been on a stable dose of heart or diabetes medication for at least a month.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants complete a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention with varying intensities

24 weeks

Baseline, early-intervention (~6 weeks), and post-intervention (~24 weeks)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in body composition, perceived global health, metabolic syndrome z-score, insulin sensitivity, and cardiorespiratory fitness

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High/Mod
• High/Vig
• Low/Mod

Trial Overview The study tests how well older adults respond to different intensities of aerobic exercise (Low/Mod, High/Mod, High/Vig) over six months, focusing on physical resilience and adaptations due to aging.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Low Amount/Moderate Intensity (Low/Mod) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Six months of low amount/moderate intensity aerobic exercise

Group II: High Amount/Vigorous Intensity (High/Vig) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Six months of high amount/vigorous intensity aerobic exercise

Group III: High Amount/Moderate Intensity (High/Mod) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Six months of high amount/moderate intensity aerobic exercise

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Duke University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,495

Recruited

5,912,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Resistance training (RT) significantly reduces all-cause mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular disease while improving physical functioning in adults, based on an analysis of 11 systematic reviews involving over 382,000 participants.

Although adverse events were not consistently reported, serious adverse events related to RT were uncommon, suggesting that the benefits of resistance training outweigh the potential harms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training and health in adults: an overview of systematic reviews. El-Kotob, R., Ponzano, M., Chaput, JP., et al.[2021]

A scoping review of 69 studies on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in older adults found that HIIT protocols are generally well-tolerated and can provide significant health benefits, particularly in improving cardiorespiratory fitness.

Most research has focused on healthy older adults, highlighting a need for larger studies and more investigation into HIIT's effects on older adults with various health conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training in Older Adults: a Scoping Review. Marriott, CFS., Petrella, AFM., Marriott, ECS., et al.[2021]

In a review of 121 trials involving 6700 older adults, most adverse events related to progressive resistance strength training were musculoskeletal issues like muscle strains and joint pain, particularly in participants with pre-existing health conditions or those engaging in high-intensity training.

Adverse events were often underreported, highlighting the need for clearer definitions and consistent reporting in future studies to better inform practitioners about the risks and benefits of strength training in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events reported in progressive resistance strength training trials in older adults: 2 sides of a coin. Liu, CJ., Latham, N.[2010]

Resistance training significantly enhances muscular strength and endurance in older adults, contributing to improved functional independence and quality of life, even in the oldest individuals.

The combination of strength training and aerobic exercise in circuit training not only increases muscle strength but also improves balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health, reducing disability risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of strength and resistance training on cardiovascular disease risk factors and outcomes in older adults. Williams, MA., Stewart, KJ.[2013]

Exercise interventions have a positive effect on physical determinants and functional abilities in frail older adults, based on a systematic review of 47 randomized controlled trials.

Multicomponent training programs lasting at least 5 months, with sessions three times a week for 30-45 minutes, showed the best outcomes for managing frailty compared to other exercise types.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of exercise interventions for the management of frailty: a systematic review. Theou, O., Stathokostas, L., Roland, KP., et al.[2022]

Resistance training (RT) is the only non-drug method proven to effectively counteract age-related declines in muscle mass, strength, and power, while also reducing risks of various health issues like cardiovascular disease and depression.

Minimal-dose RT strategies, which involve lower training volumes and can be performed with minimal equipment, are effective in improving strength and functional ability, making it easier for more people to participate and potentially enhancing overall health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Minimal-Dose Resistance Training for Improving Muscle Mass, Strength, and Function: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Practical Considerations. Fyfe, JJ., Hamilton, DL., Daly, RM.[2022]

A study involving 146 older adults with frailty or pre-frailty showed that both supervised and home-based exercise programs significantly improved walking speed and muscle strength after 3 months.

Participants in the supervised exercise group experienced greater improvements in physical performance tests compared to those in the home-based group, highlighting the benefits of professional supervision in exercise programs for older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of concurrent aerobic and resistance exercise in frail and pre-frail older adults: A randomized trial of supervised versus home-based programs. Meng, NH., Li, CI., Liu, CS., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7858023/

Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review ... The World Health Organization recommends that older adults engage in ≥150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or ≥75 min of vigorous-intensity aerobic ...

2. ama-assn.org ama-assn.org/public-health/prevention-wellness/massive-study-uncovers-how-much-exercise-needed-live-longer

Massive study uncovers how much exercise is needed to ... Participants who performed two to four times above the recommended amount of moderate physical activity had a 26% to 31% lower all-cause ...

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2025.1493827/full

Enhancing active aging through exercise: a comparative ... Results: Across the reviewed studies, both HIIT and CAT produced significant health benefits in older adults. HIIT led to a 15%–20% increase in VO2 max, a 12% ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167494324001274

Effects of high-intensity interval and continuous moderate ... This meta-analysis compared the effects of HIIT and MICT on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, vascular, metabolic, and hormonal variables

5. bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13102-025-01176-5

The effectiveness of a high-intensity interval exercise on ... The findings obtained from our study show that HIIT intervention applied to older individuals increases walking distance, thus contributing ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4889622/

Physical activity in older age: perspectives for healthy ... Low and moderate intensity aerobic exercise are low risk for older people and even more intense aerobic activities carry relatively little risk. Several ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145098/

The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Health Management in ... It is widely recognized that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise contributes to increased cardiorespiratory fitness in older individuals.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167494324001274?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Effects of high-intensity interval and continuous moderate ... A meta-analysis claimed that when applied with appropriate screening and medical cooperation, HIIT can be safe for high-risk patients (Weston et al., 2014).