Rates of Recovery From Strenuous Exercise in Physically Active Older Adults
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02899650 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(This was a research project that was conducted by a visiting scholar and his time for departure came earlier than the study completion.)
First Posted : September 14, 2016
Results First Posted : January 22, 2021
Last Update Posted : January 22, 2021
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Muscles | Other: exercise | Not Applicable |
There is a well-conceived notion that the recovery from strenuous exercise gets slower as individuals get older in age. Studies using animal models have demonstrated that stretching of electrically-activated skeletal muscle to mimic eccentric muscle contractions results in a greater decline and slower recovery in muscular force in old mice than in young mice. Similarly, in human studies using sedentary adults, age has been associated with a slower rate of recovery from a series of eccentric contractions. However, the process of aging is often confounded by coexisting diseases and gradual sedentary lifestyles that progress with advancing aging. Could older adults who are apparently healthy and habitually exercising demonstrate slower rates of recovery from strenuous exercise? In a small-scale study, recreationally-active middle-aged adults did not display a slower recovery from unaccustomed eccentric exercise than young adults. Masters athletes are an effective experimental model to address this question as extrinsic factors (e.g., deconditioning, chronic degenerative diseases) that often confound the intrinsic aging process can be minimized in this population. As no study has been conducted in Masters athletes, it is unknown if Masters athletes would experience slower rates of recovery similar to their sedentary peers.
With this information as background, the general aim of the proposed study is to determine if older adults who are healthy and physically active demonstrate slower rates of recovery from unaccustomed strenuous exercise of downhill running than younger peers. In an attempt to properly determine the influence of aging and regular physical activity, 4 groups of apparently healthy adults, including young sedentary, young trained, older sedentary, and older trained adults, will be studied.
A total of 60 apparently healthy men and women will serve as subjects. Half will be young [18-40-year-old (n=30)] and the other half older [50-80-year-old (n=30)]. After the screening and familiarization, investigators will ask participants to visit the laboratory four times (four consecutive days) to perform downhill running and to test physiological measurements (muscular strength, pain scale, range of motion, arterial stiffness and blood pressure and blood creatinine and myoglobin concentrations).
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Other |
Official Title: | Rates of Recovery From Strenuous Exercise in Physically Active Older Adults |
Actual Study Start Date : | August 1, 2016 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | September 1, 2017 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 1, 2017 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Young Fit
Young (18-39 yrs) people who have endurance training habit
|
Other: exercise
acute downhill running |
Experimental: Young Unfit
Young (18-39 yrs) people who have sedentary lifestyle.
|
Other: exercise
acute downhill running |
Experimental: Older Fit
Older (50-80 yrs) people who have endurance training habit
|
Other: exercise
acute downhill running |
Experimental: Older Unfit
Older (50-80 yrs) people who have sedentary lifestyle
|
Other: exercise
acute downhill running |
- Rate of Force Development [ Time Frame: After the downhill running protocol, various markers of muscle damage and muscular strength were obtained 24 hours post (the third visit), 48 hours post (the forth visit) and 72 hours post (the fifth visit). ]Rate of force development are measured by determining peak torque achieved on an isometric leg extension machine.
- Pain Scale [ Time Frame: After the downhill running protocol, muscle damage pain scale was measured 24 hours post (the third visit), 48 hours post (the forth visit) and 72 hours post (the fifth visit). ]Pain scale on quadriceps muscle was assessed using a validated visual pain scale. The scale was on a 10-point scale (0 being absence of soreness, 10 being worst imaginable soreness).

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Sedentary (exercise < 1 time/week) or well-trained individuals (exercise ≧ 2 times/week)
- Ages 18-39 and 50-80 years
- Individuals who can safely exercise
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals who reports "Symptoms or Signs Suggestive of Disease" on the Health Research Questionnaire (heart and respiratory problems, dizziness and ankle edema).
- Individuals who report substance abuse within the last 6 months (elicit drugs, alcohol)
- Smokers

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02899650
United States, Texas | |
Cardiovascular Aging Research Lab at UT Austin | |
Austin, Texas, United States, 78712 |
Documents provided by Hirofumi Tanaka, University of Texas at Austin:
Publications:
Responsible Party: | Hirofumi Tanaka, Professor, University of Texas at Austin |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02899650 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2016-04-0070 |
First Posted: | September 14, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | January 22, 2021 |
Last Update Posted: | January 22, 2021 |
Last Verified: | January 2021 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Eccentric exercise Masters athlete |