Exercise before immobilization to prevent muscle loss
Prehabilitative Exercise - Can the Physiological Consequences of Immobilization be Prevented?
This study is testing if doing heavy exercise before being in a knee brace can help prevent muscle loss in both younger and older adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Bispebjerg Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Copenhagen, Capital Region) |
| Trial ID | NCT06205784 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study involves 48 healthy individuals, split between younger (20-35 years) and older (65-85 years) participants, who will undergo a period of knee immobilization for 7-10 days. Half of the participants will engage in a 4-week heavy resistance exercise training program prior to immobilization to assess its protective effects against muscle atrophy. The study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of how prehabilitative exercise may mitigate the effects of immobilization on muscle health. Participants will be monitored for changes in muscle mass and function throughout the study.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy individuals aged 20-35 or 65-85 with a BMI between 18.5 and 35 kg/m2.
Not a fit: Patients with knee pain, recent strength training experience, or certain medical conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help preserve muscle mass and function in individuals undergoing periods of immobilization.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of prehabilitative exercise prior to immobilization is novel, similar studies have shown positive outcomes in muscle preservation strategies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age: Between 20-35 years old or between 65-85 years old. * BMI: Between 18.5 and 35 kg/m2. * Healthy and well, with normal dietary habits (not vegan). Exclusion Criteria: * More than one muscle biopsy previously taken from both vastus lateralis muscles. * Smoking. * Pregnancy. * Past or present substance or alcohol abuse. * Medical/surgical conditions that are assessed to affect protein synthesis or the participant's involvement in the trial. * Knee pain that could affect the completion of the training intervention. * High intake of supplements that increase the risk of bleeding during muscle biopsy (such as fish oil and ginger). * Participation in regular strength training within the past year. * Regular participation in structured sports. * Current use of blood-thinning medication. * Previous participation in trials involving oral intake of heavy water. * Metal in the body preventing MRI scanning. * For the older group, not having gone through menopause, and for the younger group, not having a regular menstrual cycle.
Where this trial is running
Copenhagen, Capital Region
- Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen — Copenhagen, Capital Region, Denmark (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.