Flywheel Resistance Training and Traditional Resistance Training in Older Women With Sedentary Behaviors

Summary

There are easily accessible and safe strategies, such as resistance training, that can contribute to reducing depressive symptoms and preserving physical and executive function in older women. Resistance training is defined as exercises performed either in water or on land, involving the use of a constant load or uniform weight, regardless of the training program. Various types of resistance training equipment are available, including free weights, pneumatic resistance machines, elastic bands, or even body weight. Specifically, eccentric muscle action occurs when the force applied to the muscle exceeds the momentary force produced by the muscle itself, resulting in the forced elongation of the muscle-tendon system during contraction.

To date, evidence from randomized clinical trials has compared the effectiveness of aerobic, resistance, and Pilates exercises in reducing depressive symptoms and improving physical and executive function in older women.

While experimental studies have demonstrated the efficacy of physical exercise, the effect of long-term eccentrically reinforced resistance training on depressive symptoms, physical function, and executive function in sedentary older women remains unclear.

Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the safety and effect of eccentrically reinforced resistance exercise versus traditional resistance training on depressive symptoms, physical and executive function, quality of life, different manifestations of muscle strength, body composition, vital signs, abdominal circumference, fall risk, and fatigue symptoms in sedentary older women over a 10-month period.

Conditions

• Depressive Symptoms
• Physical Function
• Executive Function
• Resistance Training

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Flywheel Resistance Training

For each training session, 6 to 7 generic exercises will be performed, involving small and large muscle groups (leg extension, leg flexion, biceps curl, triceps extension, seated row, shoulder flexion and shoulder raise). They will perform 4 sets of 8 repetitions, with a 2-minute break between exercises and sets. They will perform these exercises at a high intensity (always 10 on the OMNI-RES Scale).

BEHAVIORAL

Traditional resistance training

For each training session, 6 to 7 generic exercises will be performed, involving small and large muscle groups (leg extension, leg flexion, biceps curl, triceps extension, seated row, shoulder flexion and shoulder raise). They will perform 4 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions, with a 2-minute break between exercises and sets. They will perform these exercises at moderate and high intensities (6 to 10 on the OMNI-RES scale).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Vicosa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Osvaldo Costa Moreira · Federal University Of Viçosa

• Edison A Pérez Bedoya · Antioquia University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-10

Primary Completion

2025-12-19

Completion

2026-01-21

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations