Exercise TrainingNCT05263115
Stair Climbing Exercise Versus Traditional Resistance Exercise
A study testing Resistance Exercise intervention and Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention in people with Exercise Training, run by KU Leuven at 1 site in Belgium.
Trial summary
Current evidence suggests resistance exercise as the primary therapeutic strategy to prevent age-related functional decline. The National Strength and Conditioning Association recently stated that a properly designed resistance exercise program should include power exercises performed at higher velocities in… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exercise Training
- What is being tested?
- Resistance Exercise intervention and Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBelgium
- Study dates
- 11 Feb 2022to 30 Jul 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- -
Who cannot join
- Unstable cardiovascular disease
- Neurological disorders
- Cognitive malfunctioning (MoCA < 24)
- Low level of physical function (SPPB < 7)
- Acute infections/fever
- Severe musculoskeletal problems
- Systematic engagement in (resistance) exercise in the 12 months prior to participation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: An Individualized Stair Climbing Program Versus Traditional Resistance Exercise: Effects on Strength, Power, Functional Performance and Cognition in Older Adults
Current evidence suggests resistance exercise as the primary therapeutic strategy to prevent age-related functional decline. The National Strength and Conditioning Association recently stated that a properly designed resistance exercise program should include power exercises performed at higher velocities in concentric movements with moderate intensities. We should be aware that not all older adults are easily motivated to train in unfamiliar gym-based settings with high subscription fees. Therefore, implementation of traditional gym-based resistance exercise at a large scale has been found to be difficult. Interestingly, we have previously shown that the use of high external loads, which implies the need for specific facility memberships, is not necessary to induce neuromuscular gains. This provides strong support for home-based training intervention strategies. Stair climbing or stepping-based exercise constitute a promising avenue to ameliorate the cost-effectiveness and implementation potential of resistance exercise in older adults. Such exercises can induce muscular activation levels similar to high-load resistance exercise and result in similar or even better gains in muscle mass, strength and power compared to slow-speed resistance exercise when properly designed. However, the (neuro)-muscular effects of stair climbing exercise have never been compared to the more optimal power-oriented resistance exercise, which is the primary aim of this study. The secondary aim of this study is to examine if stair climbing exercise also has beneficial effects on cognition.
- Conditions
- Exercise Training
- Being tested
- Resistance Exercise intervention, Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Resistance Exercise interventionOther
12-week progressive resistance exercise intervention
Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise interventionOther
12-week progressive stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance exercise | Active comparator | 12-week progressive power-oriented resistance exercise program on leg press machine Receives: Other: Resistance Exercise intervention |
| Functional stair and stepping-based exercise | Experimental | 12-week progressive functional weight-bearing stair and stepping-based exercise program Receives: Other: Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
F-V profile
Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. F0 (maximal force), v0 (maximal velocity), a (the equation's slope), Pmax (maximal power) and the corresponding v and F at Pmax are used for the analyses.
Measured: Change from baseline in F-v profile at 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (10)
Gait speed
The average speed to walk 10m as fast as possible (in m/s)
Measured: Change from baseline in gait speed at 12 weeks
5-repetition sit-to-stand time
The time (s) needed to perform 5 sit-to-stand transitions.
Measured: Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 12 weeks
5-repetition sit-to-stand power
The power (watt) needed to perform 5 sit-to-stand transitions.
Measured: Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 12 weeks
Stair ascent time
The time (s) needed to ascend a flight of stairs.
Measured: Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 12 weeks.
Stair ascent power
The power (watt) needed to ascend a flight of stairs.
Measured: Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 12 weeks.
Countermovement jump height
Jump height (cm) in a countermovement jump
Measured: Change from baseline in countermovement jump height at 12 weeks.
MoCA test score
Total score (min 0, max 30, higher scores indicate better performance) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test
Measured: Change from baseline in Montrial Cognitive Assessment test score at 12 weeks.
Digit Span Test score
Total score (min 0, max 30, higher scores indicate better performance) on the Digit Span Test
Measured: Change from baseline in Digit Span Test score at 12 weeks.
Trail Making Test Time
Total duration (s) needed to complete the Trail Making Test.
Measured: Change from baseline in Trail Making Test at 12 weeks.
Stroop Test number of words
Total number of words red in 45s in the stroop test.
Measured: Change from baseline in Stroop Test at 12 weeks.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Mar 2022
- Study start11 Feb 2022
- Primary completion30 Jul 2022
- Study completion30 Jul 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Exercise TrainingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by KU LeuvenThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- KU Leuven
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Evelien Van Roie, KU Leuven
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05263115
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- S66174
- Status last verified
- Jan 2023
- First submitted
- 11 Feb 2022
- Last updated
- 23 Jan 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Van Roie E, van Uffelen J, Delecluse C. Stair-Climbing Versus Machine-Based Resistance Exercise to Improve Muscle Power Among Older Adults: A Noninferiority Trial. J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Mar 1;39(3):e496-e505. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005005. Epub 2024 Nov 26.
PubMed 39590559
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jan 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Individualized Stair Climbing Program Versus Traditional Resistance Exercise: Effects on Strength, Power, Functional Performance and Cognition in Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05263115
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- S66174
- Conditions
- Exercise Training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- KU LeuvenUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jul 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Current evidence suggests resistance exercise as the primary therapeutic strategy to prevent age-related functional decline. The National Strength and Conditioning Association recently stated that a properly designed resistance exercise program should include power exercises performed at higher velocities in concentric movements with moderate intensities. We should be aware that not all older adults are easily motivated to train in unfamiliar gym-based settings with high subscription fees. Therefore, implementation of traditional gym-based resistance exercise at a large scale has been found to be difficult. Interestingly, we have previously shown that the use of high external loads, which implies the need for specific facility memberships, is not necessary to induce neuromuscular gains. This provides strong support for home-based training intervention strategies. Stair climbing or stepping-based exercise constitute a promising avenue to ameliorate the cost-effectiveness and implementation potential of resistance exercise in older adults. Such exercises can induce muscular activation levels similar to high-load resistance exercise and result in similar or even better gains in muscle mass, strength and power compared to slow-speed resistance exercise when properly designed. However, the (neuro)-muscular effects of stair climbing exercise have never been compared to the more optimal power-oriented resistance exercise, which is the primary aim of this study. The secondary aim of this study is to examine if stair climbing exercise also has beneficial effects on cognition.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance exercise | Active comparator | Other: Resistance Exercise intervention12-week progressive power-oriented resistance exercise program on leg press machine |
| Functional stair and stepping-based exercise | Experimental | Other: Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention12-week progressive functional weight-bearing stair and stepping-based exercise program |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- -
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Unstable cardiovascular disease
- Neurological disorders
- Cognitive malfunctioning (MoCA < 24)
- Low level of physical function (SPPB < 7)
- Acute infections/fever
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance Exercise intervention12-week progressive resistance exercise intervention | Other | Resistance exercise |
| Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention12-week progressive stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention | Other | Functional stair and stepping-based exercise |
Primary outcome
F-V profile
Time frame: Change from baseline in F-v profile at 12 weeks
Force-velocity profiling is carried out unilaterally (dominant leg) on the pneumatic leg press device (Leg Press CC, HUR, Kokkola, Finland). The test protocol consists of a maximal isometric test (knee joint angle = 85°, hip angle = 55°; 3 attempts of 3s), followed by explosive concentric leg extensions at gradually increasing loads (unloaded, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75% of the maximal isometric force, 2-3 attempts per load, and additional single repetitions until one-repetition maximum is reached). Mean velocity of the best trial per load is used to estimate the individual F-v relationship through a linear equation. This F-v relationship will be used to examine the exercise-induced adaptations. F0 (maximal force), v0 (maximal velocity), a (the equation's slope), Pmax (maximal power) and the corresponding v and F at Pmax are used for the analyses.
10 secondary outcomes
Gait speed
Time frame: Change from baseline in gait speed at 12 weeks
5-repetition sit-to-stand time
Time frame: Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 12 weeks
5-repetition sit-to-stand power
Time frame: Change from baseline in sit-to-stand performance at 12 weeks
Stair ascent time
Time frame: Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 12 weeks.
Stair ascent power
Time frame: Change from baseline in stair climbing performance at 12 weeks.
Countermovement jump height
Time frame: Change from baseline in countermovement jump height at 12 weeks.
MoCA test score
Time frame: Change from baseline in Montrial Cognitive Assessment test score at 12 weeks.
Digit Span Test score
Time frame: Change from baseline in Digit Span Test score at 12 weeks.
Trail Making Test Time
Time frame: Change from baseline in Trail Making Test at 12 weeks.
Stroop Test number of words
Time frame: Change from baseline in Stroop Test at 12 weeks.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jan 2023.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39590559Van Roie E, van Uffelen J, Delecluse C. Stair-Climbing Versus Machine-Based Resistance Exercise to Improve Muscle Power Among Older Adults: A Noninferiority Trial. J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Mar 1;39(3):e496-e505. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005005. Epub 2024 Nov 26.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Resistance Exercise intervention and Functional stair climbing and stepping-based exercise intervention in people with Exercise Training, run by KU Leuven at 1 site in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jan 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
F-V profile (time frame: Change from baseline in F-v profile at 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05263115, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jan 2023.