Resistance Training for Cardiometabolic Health

(OVERCOME-IT Trial)

Overseen By Sarahi Hernandez, MPH

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled hypertension, Pregnancy, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 16 weeks

36 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your medications, especially since the trial includes people taking medications for conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Remotely Delivered Resistance Training for cardiometabolic health?

Research shows that online and home-based exercise programs can improve physical health and quality of life for people with cardiometabolic conditions. Resistance training, specifically, is known to increase muscle strength and may improve heart health and blood sugar control. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is resistance training generally safe for humans?

Resistance training is generally safe for humans, including those with heart disease and hypertension (high blood pressure), when properly supervised and tailored to individual needs. Studies show it can be safely included in cardiac rehabilitation and can help improve muscle strength and cardiovascular health without significant risk of complications. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

How is Remotely Delivered Resistance Training different from other treatments for cardiometabolic health?

Remotely Delivered Resistance Training is unique because it allows patients to perform resistance exercises at home, which can improve muscle strength and cardiovascular health without the need for in-person sessions. This approach is particularly beneficial for those who may have difficulty accessing traditional exercise facilities or prefer the convenience of home-based workouts. ^{4 9 10 11 12}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to collect preliminary data on the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effects of a novel, remotely delivered resistance training program.

Research Team

Amber W Kinsey, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Black or African American women aged 30-64 who are not regularly doing resistance training and have conditions like overweight, obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, or hypertension. Participants must live near the University, be willing to exercise at home using an internet-connected device and get medical clearance if needed.

Inclusion Criteria

I am female.

Self-identifies as Black or African American

Insufficient resistance training engagement (<2 sessions/week in the past 6 months)

Exclusion Criteria

Planning to relocate out of the area in the next 6 months

Unwilling to obtain medical clearance (if indicated by prescreening)

I weigh less than 450 lbs.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a remotely delivered resistance training program via a web-based platform

16 weeks

Baseline and Month 4 assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Remotely Delivered Resistance Training

Trial Overview The study tests a new remotely delivered resistance training program designed for cardiometabolic health improvement. It aims to see how feasible and effective this home-based workout regimen can be for participants.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention/Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A home-based resistance training condition that is delivered through a web-based platform.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Findings from Research

An online supervised exercise program significantly reduced fasting blood sugar and body mass index (BMI) in 70 older patients with Type 2 diabetes over a 6-week period.

While both supervised and unsupervised exercise groups showed improvements in psychological resilience and quality of life, the online supervised group demonstrated greater benefits, suggesting it may be a valuable treatment option for older adults unable to attend in-person rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of an online-supervised exercise program in older people with diabetes on fasting blood sugar, psychological resilience and quality of life: A double blind randomised controlled trial. Terkes, N., Aksu, NT., Yamac, SU.[2023]

A 12-week home-based telehealth exercise training program significantly increased physical activity levels and exercise capacity in patients with cardiometabolic multimorbidity, as shown by a randomized controlled trial involving 50 participants.

The program also improved health-related quality of life, particularly in physical function, indicating that telehealth exercise interventions can be effective and beneficial for patients managing multiple cardiometabolic conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Home-Based Telehealth Exercise Training Program for Patients With Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Chiang, SL., Shen, CL., Chen, LC., et al.[2021]

A 12-week tele-exercise training program significantly improved physical activity levels and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with cardiometabolic multimorbidity, with 68 out of 83 participants completing the study.

Participants in the tele-exercise group showed enhanced heart rate recovery and increased measures of fitness, such as VO2peak and workload, compared to those receiving usual care, indicating the program's effectiveness in managing cardiometabolic health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a 12-week tele-exercise training program on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery in patients with cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Chiang, SL., Shen, CL., Lee, MS., et al.[2023]

Resistance training is safe and effective for patients in cardiac rehabilitation, showing fewer signs of myocardial ischemia compared to aerobic training, which may be due to lower heart rates and improved coronary artery filling.

This type of training enhances muscle strength, leading to better exercise performance and quality of life, including improvements in mood and emotional health, although its effects on blood pressure and lipid profiles remain unclear.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of resistance training in heart disease. McCartney, N.[2019]

Resistance training (RT) can effectively help in treating obesity and reducing major cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes, by promoting muscle mass development.

The review highlights the importance of maintaining skeletal muscle mass to mitigate metabolic disorders associated with aging and decreased physical activity, suggesting that clinicians should incorporate RT into treatment plans for obesity-related metabolic issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence for resistance training as a treatment therapy in obesity. Strasser, B., Schobersberger, W.[2021]

Isometric resistance training (IRT) has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure by an average of 7.4/3.3 mmHg, which is comparable to the effects of antihypertensive medications, and can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by 13% to 22%.

IRT is safe for a variety of patient populations and is particularly beneficial for individuals who cannot engage in aerobic exercise or have resistant hypertension, requiring only about 17 minutes of training per week.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evidence-based guide to the efficacy and safety of isometric resistance training in hypertension and clinical implications. Baffour-Awuah, B., Pearson, MJ., Dieberg, G., et al.[2023]

Dynamic resistance training can be safely included in cardiac rehabilitation for selected patients, as it does not pose a higher risk than aerobic training when properly supervised and tailored to individual needs.

Low-intensity resistance training (40-60% of maximum voluntary contraction) with controlled repetitions leads to only modest increases in blood pressure, similar to moderate endurance training, making it a viable option for improving muscle strength and cardiovascular health in patients with good cardiac function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recommendations for resistance exercise in cardiac rehabilitation. Recommendations of the German Federation for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Bjarnason-Wehrens, B., Mayer-Berger, W., Meister, ER., et al.[2019]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of an online-supervised exercise program in older people with diabetes on fasting blood sugar, psychological resilience and quality of life: A double blind randomised controlled trial. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Home-Based Telehealth Exercise Training Program for Patients With Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a 12-week tele-exercise training program on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery in patients with cardiometabolic multimorbidity. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of resistance training in heart disease. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance Training Behavior Is Enhanced With Digital Behavior Change Coaching: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Novice Adults. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence for resistance training as a treatment therapy in obesity. [2021]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evidence-based guide to the efficacy and safety of isometric resistance training in hypertension and clinical implications. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of resistive training on lipoprotein-lipid profiles: a comparison to aerobic exercise training. [2019]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recommendations for resistance exercise in cardiac rehabilitation. Recommendations of the German Federation for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. [2019]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of short-term, medium-term and long-term resistance exercise training on cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults: systematic review with meta-analysis. [2022]

11. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing metabolic syndrome in morbid obesity with resistance training: Reporting interindividual variability. [2020]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of eight weeks of resistance training on the risk factors of metabolic syndrome in overweight /obese women - "A Pilot Study". [2021]