Progressive Resistance Training for Aging

(BRIO Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Amanda Tweed

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Must not be taking: Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets, Anabolic steroids, others

Disqualifiers: Osteoarthritis, Heart disease, Diabetes, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 6 months

300 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how progressive resistance training (a type of strength exercise) can enhance physical function and metabolism in older adults. Participants will either engage in strength training three times a week or attend health education classes once a week. The trial seeks individuals aged 65 or older who do not exercise regularly and may be at risk for mobility issues. Participation could provide insights into how strength training impacts health in older adults. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to valuable research on improving health and mobility in this population.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking certain medications, such as anti-coagulant or anti-platelet therapy, anabolic steroids, growth hormone, replacement androgen therapy, anti-androgen therapy, and weight loss medications. If you are on any of these, you would need to stop them to participate.

What prior data suggests that progressive resistance training is safe for older adults?

Studies have shown that progressive resistance training (PRT) is generally safe for older adults. Research indicates that PRT effectively improves physical abilities and muscle strength, helping to reduce the effects of aging on the body.

In previous studies, older adults engaged in PRT for several weeks and reported no major safety concerns. Some research even suggests that heavy strength training might lower the risk of heart problems compared to regular strength training. Overall, older adults tolerate PRT well, and it has a good safety record. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about progressive resistance training for aging because it focuses on building strength and muscle mass, which are crucial for maintaining mobility and independence as we age. Unlike typical treatments for age-related muscle decline, which might include medications or supplements, this method uses targeted exercise to naturally stimulate muscle growth and improve overall physical function. By incorporating regular, structured exercise sessions, this approach not only enhances physical health but also encourages an active lifestyle, potentially providing broader health benefits beyond just muscle strength. This hands-on, proactive method stands out because it empowers individuals to take control of their health through physical activity.

What evidence suggests that progressive resistance training is effective for improving physical function and metabolism in older adults?

Studies have shown that progressive resistance training (PRT), which participants in this trial may receive, can greatly improve physical ability and muscle strength in older adults. Research indicates that it aids in daily activities like walking and getting out of a chair. Strong evidence suggests that PRT can slow the effects of aging on muscles and improve overall function. One study found that using elastic bands in resistance training significantly increased muscle strength in healthy older adults. Overall, research well supports progressive resistance training as an effective way to enhance physical function in older adults. Participants in this trial may also be assigned to a health education group, which focuses on providing information about maintaining health as one ages. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Nathan LeBrasseur, Ph.D, MS

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for sedentary adults aged 65 or older who are at risk of mobility disability but can still perform some physical activities. They should not be engaged in regular moderate exercise, have no recent participation in other trials, and must be willing to attend sessions at the clinical sites.

Inclusion Criteria

Sedentary individuals identified using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors physical activity questionnaire to exclude those engaged in regular (125 min/week or more) moderate intensity physical activity

I am 65 years old or older.

I am at risk of having difficulty moving around, as shown by my SPPB score.

Exclusion Criteria

Unwillingness to provide informed consent

Participation in a lifestyle or pharmacologic intervention trial or structured program of exercise training in the past 6 months

Clinically significant abnormality in any screening laboratory values deemed concerning for study participation by the study physician

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in progressive resistance training or health education sessions

6 months

3 visits per week for exercise group, 1 visit per week for education group

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical function and metabolic health

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Health Education
• Progressive Resistance Training

Trial Overview The study is testing how different biological and lifestyle factors affect older adults' responses to progressive resistance training aimed at improving physical function and metabolism. Participants will either receive health education or engage in high-intensity endurance or resistance training.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Progressive Resistance Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

participants will attend exercise session 3 times per week.

Group II: Health Education Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

participants will attend health educations classed 1 time per week.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Tufts University Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

90+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 82 healthy older adults over 11 weeks of resistance training, all four methods of load progression (percent 1RM, RPE, RM, and RiR) were found to be equally effective in improving muscle strength and functional performance.

The RPE method was preferred by participants as it was perceived as more tolerable and enjoyable, making it the optimal choice for encouraging continued participation in resistance training among older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimal Approach to Load Progressions during Strength Training in Older Adults. Buskard, ANL., Jacobs, KA., Eltoukhy, MM., et al.[2020]

Progressive resistance training significantly improves muscle strength and functional performance in older adults aged 80 to 89, even in those with chronic diseases and sedentary lifestyles, based on a review of 13 studies.

The training led to better outcomes in activities such as chair stands, stair climbing, gait speed, and balance, suggesting that this type of exercise is crucial for maintaining independence in daily activities for institutionalized elderly individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of progressive resistance training interventions in older adults in nursing homes: a systematic review. Valenzuela, T.[2022]

Progressive resistance training is safe and well-accepted for older adults in a post-acute inpatient setting, with no serious adverse events reported during the study involving 33 patients.

The study showed good adherence (63%) and retention (82%) rates, indicating that older patients can engage with this type of training, although no significant differences in clinical outcomes were found between the treatment and control groups after six weeks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Progressive resistance training in a post-acute, older, inpatient setting: A randomised controlled feasibility study. Coleman, SA., Cunningham, CJ., Murphy, N., et al.[2022]

A 9-month trial involving 91 frail elderly participants showed that 3 months of supervised progressive resistance training (PRT) significantly improved muscle strength and increased fat-free mass compared to a control group.

Despite these improvements in strength and fat-free mass, PRT did not lead to significant changes in total or abdominal fat mass, indicating that while PRT is effective for building muscle, it may not be sufficient for fat loss in frail elderly individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of progressive resistance training on body composition in frail older adults: results of a randomized, controlled trial. Binder, EF., Yarasheski, KE., Steger-May, K., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 167 older adults aged 65 to 96, group-based resistance training significantly improved lower-body flexibility, strength, and agility compared to home-based resistance training and walking programs.

Both home-based and group-based resistance training showed benefits in strength and flexibility, while the walking program did not lead to any improvements, highlighting the effectiveness of resistance training for functional performance in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the effects of a home-based and group-based resistance training program on functional ability in older adults. Cyarto, EV., Brown, WJ., Marshall, AL., et al.[2008]

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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4324332/

Progressive resistance strength training for improving physical ... Progressive resistance training (PRT) improves physical ability, muscle strength, gait speed, and getting out of a chair in older adults.

2. bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-025-06209-9

Efficacy of progressive resistance training intensities and ... This study is a two-step randomised clinical trial involving 300 frail older adults. Participants will engage in a 12-week PRT twice weekly.

3. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2019/08000/resistance_training_for_older_adults__position.1.aspx

Resistance Training for Older Adults: Position Statement... There is strong evidence that resistance training can mitigate the effects of aging on neuromuscular function and functional capacity (66,88,91,465,553,573).

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.515898/full

Introducing Progressive Strength Training Program in ... The data indicated that the training was progressive with the load increment at an average of 21% toward the end of the intervention. Compared ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167494313000356

Elastic resistance training to increase muscle strength in ... The resistance training with elastic bands showed strong effects on muscle strength in healthy elderly (SMD = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.71) and with some functional ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556522000754

Review Progressive machine-based resistance training ... Machine-based progressive resistance training has the potential to reverse sarcopenia in the oldest old, as reflected by enhanced muscle strength and physical ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12003923/

Heavy Strength Training in Older Adults However, taken together, the data suggest that heavy‐very heavy strength training results in a lower cardiovascular risk than strength training ...