Resistance training adaptations in children

Resistance Training-induced Adaptations in Children

We will test whether 12 weeks of resistance training leads to neural and muscle changes that increase strength in healthy children compared with no training.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 7 Years to 12 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Brock University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Saint Catharines, Ontario)
• Trial ID: NCT07267429 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls healthy children who are able to exercise and randomizes them to 12 weeks of resistance exercise training or a non-training control group. Investigators will use non-invasive measurements to track neural and muscular changes associated with strength gains, including surface electromyography and sensitive muscle morphology techniques. Participants with recent injuries, medications affecting muscle, prior recent resistance training, or high-level athletic commitments are excluded. All training and testing take place at Brock University in Saint Catharines, Ontario.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy children and adolescents who can exercise, have not done resistance training in the past 6 months, are not in competitive sports more than twice weekly, and have no recent injuries or medications affecting muscle.

Not a fit: Children with medical diagnoses or prior injuries that alter muscle function, recent injuries limiting required movements, recent use of muscle-affecting medications, or current high-level sports participation are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify how resistance training increases strength in children and help design safer, more effective youth training programs.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows resistance training is generally safe and increases strength in youth, and a few studies suggest possible hypertrophy, but the neural and muscular mechanisms in children remain incompletely understood.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* healthy
* able to exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

* have consumed any medications in the past year which may affect muscle function,
* have any prior injuries or medical diagnoses associated with altered muscular function,
* have had an injury in the past 6 months that would limit the movements required for the training and assessment protocols,
* have performed resistance training in the past 6 months or currently participate in competitive sports (i.e., outside of school) more than 2x/week.

Where this trial is running

Saint Catharines, Ontario

• Brock University — Saint Catharines, Ontario, Canada (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Bareket Falk, PhD — Brock University
• Study coordinator: Andrew McKiel, MSc

Conditions: Healthy Participants, Strength training, Resistance training