Resistance Exercise for Muscle Insulin Sensitivity

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Must not be taking: Antihypertensives, Thyroid, Antidepressants, Lipid-lowering

Disqualifiers: Heart disease, Liver, Renal, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how resistance exercise can enhance muscle insulin use and glucose management in the body. Participants will engage in resistance exercise training to observe its effects on muscle health and sugar metabolism. The trial seeks individuals who have been mostly inactive, engaging in less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week, and whose weight has remained stable for at least three months. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific knowledge and potentially improve personal health through exercise.

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

The trial does not clearly state if you need to stop your current medications. However, if you are on certain medications like antihypertensives, thyroid, antidepressants, or lipid-lowering drugs, they must have been stable for at least 2 months before joining the study.

What prior data suggests that resistance exercise training is safe for improving muscle insulin sensitivity?

Research has shown that resistance exercise is generally safe and can improve the body's ability to manage blood sugar, particularly in older adults and individuals with type 2 diabetes. Most studies report that participants tolerate this exercise well, without serious side effects.

One study demonstrated that resistance training lowered insulin levels in the blood, benefiting those concerned about insulin resistance, where the body doesn't respond well to insulin. Another study found similar benefits for people with diabetes, showing improved insulin function in muscles.

Overall, resistance exercise seems to be a safe and effective method for managing blood sugar levels. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for improving muscle insulin sensitivity, like medications and dietary changes, focus on regulating blood sugar levels. However, resistance exercise training is unique because it directly engages the muscles, which can enhance insulin action and improve glucose uptake. Researchers are excited about this approach because it harnesses the body's natural ability to increase muscle strength, potentially offering a drug-free, low-cost alternative with additional health benefits like improved muscle tone and strength. This method could provide an empowering option for individuals looking to manage their insulin sensitivity through physical activity rather than just medication.

What evidence suggests that resistance exercise training is effective for improving muscle insulin sensitivity?

Research has shown that strength training, which participants in this trial will undergo as Resistance Exercise Training, effectively improves how muscles use insulin. Studies have found that strength training surpasses exercises like running in controlling blood sugar. One study discovered that strength exercises improved insulin use more than other methods in people with diabetes. Additionally, regular strength training benefits overall health, enhances muscle function, and reduces inflammation. These findings suggest that strength training is a promising way to improve how the body processes sugar and combats insulin resistance. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mark Pataky

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who have been weight stable for at least 3 months, lead a sedentary lifestyle (minimal physical activity), and are not currently in any structured exercise program. It's not suitable for those with heart disease, liver or kidney issues, uncontrolled thyroid disease or hypertension, recent injuries, muscular disorders, active substance abuse, certain medications that could interfere with the study outcomes, cancer patients or significant medical conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

Weight stable for ≥3 months prior to study

Sedentary (≤30min of physical activity on ≤1 day/week)

Exclusion Criteria

Participation in a structured exercise program > 1 day/week

I have heart disease or heart failure.

I do not have any health conditions that could affect my participation in the study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Resistance Exercise Training

Participants undergo resistance exercise training to study its effects on muscle insulin sensitivity

8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Resistance Exercise Training

Trial Overview The trial aims to explore how resistance exercise training can improve muscle insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Participants will undergo resistance training exercises as part of the study to identify the mechanisms behind these benefits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Resistance Exercise Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Citations

1. news.vt.edu news.vt.edu/articles/2025/11/research_fralinbiomed_yanweightlifting.html

Weightlifting beats running for blood sugar control ... Virginia Tech scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute show that resistance training outperforms endurance exercise in ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7235686/

Strength Training and Insulin Resistance: The Mediating ... Ample evidence suggests that physical activity can help prevent and treat insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes [6]. Physical activity lowers ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822725000932

The efficacy of resistance exercise training on metabolic ... Overall, resistance training provides consistent benefits for insulin sensitivity, muscle function, and systemic inflammation in middle-aged and older adults ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-86306-2

Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves ... The 8-week aerobic exercise regimen demonstrated enhanced insulin sensitivity, upper body strength, and cardiovascular performance in young females

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1409474/full

Effect of nine different exercise interventions on insulin ... Resistance exercise exhibited superior efficacy in enhancing insulin sensitivity compared with alternative interventions in patients with diabetes (SUCRA score= ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8429971/

Effects of resistance training on insulin sensitivity in the ... Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that resistance training is effective for inducing improvement in insulin sensitivity for elderly.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822725009556

Resistance training enhances metabolic and muscular ... Resistance training was associated with improvements in markers of insulin resistance, including insulin (mean difference: MD −1.35 μIU/mL), ...

8. diabetesjournals.org diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/53/2/294/11478/Strength-Training-Increases-Insulin-Mediated

Strength Training Increases Insulin-Mediated Glucose Uptake ... First, we have shown that the resistance type of exercise training increases insulin action in skeletal muscle in patients with type 2 diabetes, ...

9. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07128368

Mechanisms of Resistance Exercise Training for Improved ... To uncover the underlying mechanisms of resistance exercise training benefits on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in muscle. Official Title.