Recruiting

Low-Intensity Resistance Training & Maximal Mental Effort

Sponsor:

Kennesaw State University

Code:

NCT07687316

Conditions

Seniors

Old Age

Sarcopenia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 65 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Low Intensity Resistance Training with Maximal Mental Effort

Low Intensity Resistance Training

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of maximal mental effort combined with low-intensity resistance training on strength and neuromuscular function in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does low-intensity resistance training in combination with maximal mental effort increase strength more than low intensity resistance training alone?
  • Does low-intensity resistance training in combination with maximal mental effort improve neuromuscular function more than low intensity resistance training alone?

Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups:

  • Low intensity resistance training
  • Low intensity resistance training with maximal mental effort
  • Control Researchers will compare groups to determine differences in changes in strength, neuromuscular function, and body composition.

Conditions

Seniors

Old Age

Sarcopenia

Study ID

NCT07687316

Start date

Jun 6, 2026

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Dec, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 65 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Body mass index between 18.5 - 33 kg·m2
  • No structured physical activity in past 2 years
  • Any unstable condition contradicting exercise
  • Independently walk with or without assistive device
  • No significant cognitive impairment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Score of 22 or lower on Montreal Cognitive Assessment
  • Missing more than 3 training sessions (training groups only)
  • Pacemaker
  • Unstable angina
  • Symptomatic heart failure
  • Uncontrolled arrythmias
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (greater or equal to 160/90)
  • Myocardial infarction in the past 6 months
  • Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Severe or unstable pulmonary conditions,
  • Currently on supplemental oxygen therapy
  • Severe hearing loss or visual impairment
  • Alzheimer's Disease or significant cognitive impairment
  • Stroke in the past 6 months or ongoing stroke-induced motor impairment
  • Any neurological (e.g., Parkinson's) condition affecting motor control
  • Undergoing chemotherapy
  • Surgery in past 6 months
  • Musculoskeletal injury in the past 6 months
  • Terminal illness
  • Stage 3 or greater chronic kidney disease

Study Design

Enrollment

75 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Low Intensity Resistance Training

This group will perform low intensity, whole-body resistance training.

experimental: Low Intensity Resistance Training with Maximal Mental Effort

This group will perform low intensity, whole-body resistance training with maximal mental effort during muscle contraction.

no intervention: Control

This group will not perform any training and maintain their regular level of physical activity.

Interventions

Low Intensity Resistance Training with Maximal Mental Effort

This training intervention will be 8 weeks of low intensity resistance training, including whole-body and isolated muscle exercises, where participants will perform maximal mental effort by imagining maximal muscle contraction during each exercise.

Low Intensity Resistance Training

This training intervention will be 8 weeks of low intensity resistance training, including whole-body and isolated muscle exercises.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in isokinetic strength of the knee extensors at 60 degrees per second [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 8 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Garrett Hester Professor of Exercise Science

470-578-4267ghester4@kennesaw.edu

Locations

Kennesaw State University

Recruiting

Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, 30144

Contacts

Garrett Hester

470-578-4267ghester4@kennesaw.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Kennesaw State University

Last update posted

Jul 8, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • mobility
  • aging
  • balance
  • exercise
  • muscle

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Kennesaw State University on 2026-07-08.