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AgingLOADNCT06812143

Optimizing Strength Training in Older Adults

A study testing Strength training in people with Aging, run by Queens College, The City University of New York at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of the current study is to determine whether lifting lighter loads close to failure improves strength training adaptations and function in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. The effect of light loads on physical function 2. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Aging
What is being tested?
Strength training
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
68 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
5 Feb 2025to 25 Jan 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Males and females aged 65 years and above
  • Inactive lifestyle (< 150 min per week of moderate intensity physical activity) and not regularly participating in a structured strength training program
  • Planning to reside in the area for the duration of the study

Who cannot join

  • Severe cardiac disease, including Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina
  • Lung disease requiring either oral or injected steroids, or the use of supplemental oxygen
  • Short, portable mental status questionnaire with 3 or more errors
  • Severe arthritis (either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Cancer requiring treatment in the past 1 year (melanomas excluded)
  • Development of chest pain or severe shortness of breath during the 6 min self-paced walk test
Show all 21Show fewer
  • Parkinson's disease or other serious neurological disorders
  • Renal disease requiring dialysis
  • Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder
  • Current consumption of more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week
  • Severe lower back or shoulder pain that may worsen with weightlifting exercises
  • Undergoing physical therapy involving the lower extremities
  • Living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or other similar institutions
  • Currently enrolled in another randomized trial involving a pharmaceutical or lifestyle intervention
  • Weight change (intentional or not) over the last 6 months of > 5% of body weight, or plan to lose or gain weight during the study
  • Any other cardiovascular, pulmonary, orthopedic, neurologic, or other conditions that would preclude participation and successful completion of the protocol
  • Temporary Exclusion Criteria
  • A person meeting any of the following temporary exclusion criteria at the time of screening will not be enrolled but may be re-screened later.
  • Severe hypertension, e.g., SBP > 200 mm Hg, DBP > 110 mm Hg
  • Major surgery or fracture or hip/knee replacement within the last 6 months
  • Hospitalization within the last 6 months (excluding ER visits)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Anoop T Balachandran, PhD contact

718-997-2729

athozhuthungalba@qc.cuny.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting

  • Exercise & Aging Lab, Queens College

    Flushing, New York, 11367

    Anoop T Balachandran, 718-570-0639, athozhuthungalba@qc.cuny.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

The objective of the current study is to determine whether lifting lighter loads close to failure improves strength training adaptations and function in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. The effect of light loads on physical function
  2. The effect of light loads on muscle mass, power, and strength

Researchers will compare a light-load, high-repetition program to a standard strength training program. Participants will perform supervised strength training twice per week for 20 weeks.

Conditions
Aging
Being tested
Strength training
Keywords
Strength training, Older adults, physical function

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Strength trainingBehavioural

    Also called Resistance training, Weight training

    This intervention involves strength training with lighter loads and higher repetitions.

  • Strength trainingBehavioural

    Also called Resistance trainig, Weight training

    This intervention involves conventional strength training with higher loads and moderate repetitions.

Study groups in NCT06812143
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Light Load, High Repetition (LLHR)ExperimentalThe LLHR group will perform a full-body routine with lighter weights, performing 16-20 repetitions per set, close to failure.
Receives: Behavioral: Strength training
Strength Training (ST)Active comparatorThe ST group will perform a full-body routine with higher weights, performing 8-12 repetitions per set, close to failure.
Receives: Behavioral: Strength training

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 6-minute walk test

    Change in the total distance walked in 6 minutes. The 6-minute walk test is an objective, well-validated, and clinically meaningful measure of physical function in older adults.

    Measured: Baseline and week 21

Secondary outcomes (10)

  1. Lower body maximal muscle strength

    Change in lower body maximum muscle strength will be assessed using a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test on a leg press machine.

    Measured: Baseline and week 21.

  2. Lower body muscle power

    Lower body muscle peak power (W) will be assessed using a pneumatic leg press machine.

    Measured: Baseline and week 21

  3. Lean body mass (LBM)

    Change in total lean body mass (kg) will be assessed using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan

    Measured: Baseline and week 21

  4. Self-reported physical function

    Self-reported physical function will be assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function questionnaire. PROMIS measures are scored on the T-score metric. High scores mean more of the concept being measured.

    Measured: Baseline and week 21

  5. Get-up & go test

    Change in the time (in seconds) taken to complete the get up and go test. The get up \& go test will be used to assess lower body dynamic balance and fall risk

    Measured: Baseline and week 21

  6. 30-second chair stand test

    Change in the number of repetitions completed during the 30-Second chair stand test. This test assesses lower body functional strength and power.

    Measured: Baseline and week 21

  7. Number of participants with adverse events

    Number of participants experiencing adverse events that are possibly or definitely related to the intervention,

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of 20-week intervention period

  8. Physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES)

    Participants will complete the 18-item Physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES) to assess their level of physical activity enjoyment. Scores range from 18 to 126 and higher scores indicate greater enjoyment.

    Measured: Week 21

  9. Exercise self-efficacy questionnaire

    Participants will complete the exercise self-efficacy scale to assess their belief in their ability to continue strength training twice per week at the prescribed intensity in the future. Scores range from 0 to 100 and higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy.

    Measured: Week 21

  10. Exercise session attendance

    The total number of supervised exercise sessions attended by participants over the 20-week intervention period.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of 20-week intervention period

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Feb 2025
  2. Study start5 Feb 2025
  3. Primary completion25 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion25 Jan 2027 (estimated)

Resources

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
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
68 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06812143
Sponsor's protocol ID
R15AG085170
Other IDs
1R15AG085170-01
Acronym
LOAD
Status last verified
Feb 2025
First submitted
31 Jan 2025
Last updated
30 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes

Publications

  • T Balachandran A, Wang Y, Szabo F, Watts-Battey C, Schoenfeld BJ, Zenko Z, Quiles N. Comparison of traditional vs. lighter load strength training on fat-free mass, strength, power and affective responses in middle and older-aged adults: A pilot randomized trial. Exp Gerontol. 2023 Jul;178:112219. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112219. Epub 2023 May 30.

    PubMed 37236327

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Strength training in people with Aging, run by Queens College, The City University of New York at 1 site in United States.

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 3 inclusion and 21 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jul 2025. 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 United States. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Anoop T Balachandran, PhD (718-997-2729, athozhuthungalba@qc.cuny.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

6-minute walk test (time frame: Baseline and week 21). 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 NCT06812143, 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 30 Jul 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 3 Nov 2026.

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