EXFREQ: Investigating the Role of Resistance Exercise Frequency in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass

• Sponsor: University of Birmingham (Other)
• Overall Status: Unknown status
• CT.gov ID: NCT03275779
• Collaborator: Maastricht University (Other)
• Enrollment: 12
• Location: 1
• Arms: 2
• Anticipated Duration (Months): 11
• Patients Per Site Per Month: 1.1

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This study will investigate whether manipulating resistance exercise frequency impacts muscle protein synthesis rates. The investigators will test the hypothesise that a higher resistance exercise frequency will result in greater muscle protein synthesis rates than a lower resistance exercise frequency.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Physical Activity	Behavioral: Low Frequency Condition; Behavioral: High Frequency Condition	N/A

Detailed Description

Resistance exercise is currently the most effective means of building or maintaining muscle mass. Resistance exercise guidelines generally suggest that those looking to increase muscle mass should train each muscle group once to twice per week. However, it has been proposed that it may be of greater benefit to train a muscle group with a higher frequency (i.e., four to six times per week) than currently suggested. If true, completing the same total volume of resistance exercise in more frequent, smaller bouts could prove to be a more beneficial strategy to optimally build or maintain muscle mass.

Therefore, this study will investigate whether manipulating resistance exercise frequency impacts cumulative muscle protein synthesis rates in young individuals. Participants will undergo a 7 day period of habitual activity before completing the same total volume of resistance exercise as either; i) one isolated bout (low frequency) or ii) five smaller bouts (high frequency) over a period of 7 days.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Anticipated Enrollment: 12 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Official Title: Investigating the Role of Resistance Exercise Frequency in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass
• Anticipated Study Start Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Anticipated Primary Completion Date: Dec 1, 2018
• Anticipated Study Completion Date: Dec 1, 2018

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Low Frequency Condition Participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise.	Behavioral: Low Frequency Condition; Young, untrained participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise.
Experimental: High Frequency Condition Participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete the same total volume of resistance exercise as the low frequency condition as five smaller bouts of unilateral resistance exercise.	Behavioral: High Frequency Condition; Young, untrained participants complete 7 days of habitual physical activity followed by a 7 day period where participants complete the same total volume of resistance exercise as the low frequency condition as five smaller bouts of unilateral resistance exercise.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

1. Change in muscle protein synthesis (FSR %/day) [At day 10 and 15.]

   The change in muscle protein synthesis rates (FSR %/day) from baseline will be determined between the low and high frequency conditions at days 10 and 15 using deuterium oxide (D2O).

Secondary Outcome Measures

1. Change in satellite cell response [At day 10 and 15.]

   The change in acute satellite cell response will be determined in muscle samples following low and high frequency resistance exercise at days 10 and 15.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 35 Years
• Sexes Eligible for Study: Male
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index (18.5-29.99 kg/m2)

• Untrained - defined as: Perform activities of daily living and recreation but have completed no regular lower body resistance-type exercise (e.g., weight training) activity in the last year.

• Good general health

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lidocaine allergy

• Hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg)

• Current participation in another clinical study

• Previous participation in this study

• Bleeding disorder/s

• Current or recent smoker

• Vegetarian or vegan

• Past history of substance abuse and/or taking prescription or non-prescription medication (e.g., beta-blockers, insulin or thyroxine) or supplements that may influence normal metabolic responses.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham	Birmingham	West Midlands	United Kingdom	B15 2TT

Sponsors and Collaborators

• University of Birmingham
• Maastricht University

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Gareth Wallis, PhD, University of Birmingham

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.

• Responsible Party: University of Birmingham
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03275779
• Other Study ID Numbers: ERN_17-0997
• First Posted: Sep 8, 2017
• Last Update Posted: Sep 8, 2017
• Last Verified: Sep 1, 2017

• Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: No
• Plan to Share IPD: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Sep 8, 2017