Resistance Training

Researchers are evaluating a digital, personalized exercise program designed to reduce disease activity in adults recently diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). This controlled trial assesses whether remote exercise supervision through the SPARK app, combined with patient education videos, can improve health outcomes. The study compares this approach to usual care in patients who have not used biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and who have active disease. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving a personalized exercise program with remote coaching and another receiving usual care. The exercise program includes high intensity interval training (HIIT), muscular strength exercises, and moderate aerobic activity spread over three days per week, with the goal of 20 minutes of HIIT weekly at 85-95% of maximal heart rate. The program is remotely delivered via the SPARK application, with weekly coaching sessions and exercise data tracked by a sports watch. Throughout the 6-month trial, participants undergo assessments including disease activity measures like ASDAS and BASDAI, physical fitness tests, psychological wellbeing scales, and safety evaluations with physical exams and MRI scans. Medication use and adverse events are also monitored. The primary outcome is disease activity at 3 months, with further evaluations at 6 months to measure the effects of the exercise intervention on health, wellbeing, and physical function.

Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) often face difficulties in accessing exercise programs tailored to their needs due to limited mobility, lack of suitable options, and restricted physiotherapy access. Regular exercise is important for improving physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life, but many adults with CP do not have structured opportunities for physical activity. This research aims to evaluate the feasibility of delivering an accessible online exercise program designed specifically for adults with CP, focusing on demand, practicality, acceptability, and potential benefits to physical, mental, and social health. The study will recruit 60 adults with CP who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will participate in an 8-week online exercise and education program that includes weekly online exercise classes targeting strength, balance, and range of movement, along with educational materials covering topics like exercise, nutrition, fatigue, bone health, pain management, mental health, and sleep. The other group will receive the same educational materials over 8 weeks without the exercise classes and will be informed about the home exercise program after the intervention period. Participants will be monitored throughout the study with data collected on attendance, completion rates, engagement with exercises, and any adverse events. Health-related surveys will be completed before and after the program to assess changes in physical function, mobility, pain, fatigue, sleep, self-efficacy, depression, and participation. Selected participants will also provide feedback through interviews. The study duration includes rolling recruitment over 1.2 years and outcome measurements over 2 years, aiming to support the development of effective online exercise programs for adults with CP.

Researchers are studying older adults aged 65 and above who are pre-frail or mildly frail to evaluate the effects of Whole Body Vibration Training (WBVT) combined with usual care compared to usual care alone. This trial aims to improve muscle mass, strength, and function, addressing the challenges of traditional exercise programs that many older adults find difficult to follow due to physical or cognitive limitations. The study focuses on measuring muscle strength and physical function changes after interventions. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive WBVT along with usual care, and the other will receive only usual care. WBVT sessions use the Galileo Vibration machine three times a week for four weeks, progressively increasing vibration frequency, squat angles, and session duration. Both groups will receive instruction on Otago exercises to be done at home, with encouragement to continue aerobic activities like brisk walking. Exercise and falls diaries will be kept for up to three months. Participants will undergo assessments before the intervention, two weeks after, and three months after. These include measurements of knee extension strength, hand grip strength, muscle mass, gait speed, chair stands, calf circumference, physical activity levels, and quality of life. Falls, emergency visits, hospitalizations, and mortality will also be tracked for one year. The study includes surveys and interviews to evaluate feasibility and accessibility, with adherence monitored by reminders and diaries.

Researchers are investigating whether drinking an energy drink containing caffeine and green tea extract before exercise can increase fat burning compared to a placebo drink. This study focuses on healthy, moderately active adults aged 18 to 45 and uses a double-blind, randomized, crossover design to compare effects during rest, exercise, and recovery periods. The study aims to understand how these ingredients influence fat oxidation during endurance cycling. Participants will attend three clinic visits over 3 to 5 weeks. The first visit determines their individual exercise intensity for maximizing fat use during cycling. In two later visits, participants will consume either two cans of the active energy drink or two cans of a placebo drink without caffeine and green tea extract before completing a 30-minute cycling session at their personalized exercise level. The study compares the effects of these drinks on fat and carbohydrate use and other physiological responses. During each visit, measurements will include fat oxidation, carbohydrate oxidation, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, blood pressure, and subjective responses, all assessed from baseline through 30 minutes after exercise using indirect calorimetry. Participants will be monitored closely, and the main outcome is fat oxidation from baseline to 30 minutes post-exercise. The total study participation spans three visits within a few weeks, providing detailed data on how caffeine and green tea extract affect metabolism during exercise.

Researchers are studying physical activity levels and sleep patterns in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years who have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The study aims to understand how active these young patients are and whether they meet recommended physical activity guidelines. This observational study is conducted by the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and focuses on quality of life and disease impact in pediatric IBD patients. Participants will complete questionnaires about their physical activity, disease activity, and quality of life. They will also wear a wrist-based accelerometer for one week to monitor activity and sleep. During this period, they will keep a physical activity diary, food diary, and stool chart to provide detailed information about their daily habits and health. Throughout the study, researchers will assess moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time over one week. Additional evaluations at baseline include disease activity, perceived physical activity, sleep quality, nutritional status, and growth measurements. Nutritional assessments will be repeated over a three-day period after the baseline visit. The total involvement includes wearing the device and completing diaries, with ongoing analysis of data to understand activity and health in pediatric IBD patients.

Fatigue is a common side effect for women undergoing pelvic radiation therapy for endometrial cancer, often making daily activities more difficult. While exercise has been recommended to help with fatigue in cancer patients, there is limited research on its role during pelvic radiation therapy. This trial aims to evaluate whether an activity coaching program can improve treatment-related fatigue in women receiving this therapy. Participants will take part in an exercise coaching program involving ten weekly check-ins with a certified exercise coach. They will set weekly activity goals based on what is easy and enjoyable for them, with check-ins available in person or virtually. Participants will be randomly assigned to start the program either immediately during radiation therapy or after radiation therapy has ended, with the study lasting about six months. All participants will receive a Fitbit to monitor activity, heart rate, and steps. Throughout the study, participants will complete four surveys and perform a 6-minute walk test four times to assess heart and lung response to exercise. At the end of the trial, an interview will be conducted to gather feedback on the program. Researchers will monitor adherence to coaching sessions as the primary outcome, along with changes in fatigue, bowel and urinary symptoms, quality of life, cognitive function, sexual function, self-efficacy, and walking distance. The study aims to follow participants for up to 24 months.

Researchers are studying how different levels of fatigue during power training affect strength, movement, and muscle function in healthy older adults aged 65 to 85 years. The study aims to understand the immediate and recovery effects of varying fatigue levels on muscle soreness, exercise effort, and physical performance to help design safer and more effective training programs for this age group. Participants will complete three supervised power-training sessions on a pneumatic leg press machine about one week apart. Each session involves 4 sets with different fatigue levels: stopping when movement speed drops by 10% (low fatigue), stopping at 30% speed loss (moderate fatigue), or performing cluster sets with rest breaks to match the volume of the moderate fatigue session while maintaining low fatigue. Movement speed is continuously monitored during exercise. During the study, participants undergo strength and mobility tests before and after exercise, provide small blood samples to measure physiological responses, rate exercise effort, and report muscle soreness up to two days post-exercise. Researchers will measure outcomes like maximum voluntary contraction, torque development, muscle activity, muscle oxygenation, blood markers, functional performance tests, perceived exertion, and delayed muscle soreness over multiple timepoints. Participants are monitored for safety and recovery throughout the trial, which lasts about three weeks in total.

This research aims to evaluate how combining Mulligan mobilization with core strengthening exercises affects postpartum females experiencing sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD). SIJD is common after childbirth due to hormonal and biomechanical changes that cause pelvic instability and pain. The study explores whether adding Mulligan mobilization, a manual therapy to correct joint alignment and movement, to core strengthening can better reduce pain and improve joint function and quality of life compared to core exercises alone. Participants will receive one of two interventions: the experimental group will undergo Mulligan Mobilization with Movement (MWM) alongside core strengthening exercises, while the control group will perform core strengthening exercises alone. Mulligan MWM involves therapist-applied glides to the sacroiliac joint combined with specific movements to restore joint mechanics. Core exercises focus on strengthening muscles supporting pelvic stability, progressing over four weeks from gentle activation to functional movements. Treatments include techniques such as SIJ belt-assisted mobilization, pelvic floor engagement, and exercises like bridges, planks, and squats. During the study, women will be assessed at the start and after four weeks for pain intensity, sacroiliac joint disability, and lumbar range of motion. Researchers will monitor progress through physical tests and questionnaires to evaluate pain relief, joint function, and mobility improvements. The study will involve postpartum females aged 20 to 40 years, with participation lasting at least four weeks, and aims to support safe recovery and daily function restoration through targeted therapy.

This research aims to evaluate how well patients with various musculoskeletal conditions follow personalized home-based exercise programs prescribed by their physicians. It focuses on patients with degenerative, orthopedic, or neurological disorders undergoing rehabilitation. The study seeks to identify differences in adherence across these groups and explore factors such as demographics, clinical status, psychosocial elements, and physical function that might influence exercise compliance. Participants will receive customized home exercise programs designed by physical therapy and rehabilitation physicians based on their specific clinical needs. These exercises complement clinic-based treatments and are tailored to individual conditions within three subgroups: chronic degenerative disorders, post-operative orthopedic rehabilitation, and neurological rehabilitation following conditions like stroke or hemiplegia. The home programs will last six weeks, with clear instructions and printed materials provided to support correct performance. During the study, patients' adherence and clinical progress will be assessed at the beginning and end of the six-week program using standardized tools such as the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale, Beck Depression Index, Visual Analog Scale for pain, Barthel Index for daily living activities, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and Health Assessment Questionnaire. Researchers will monitor mood, functional status, pain levels, and fear of movement to understand adherence patterns. The study will also evaluate patients' satisfaction and factors influencing their commitment to the home exercises, aiming to improve future rehabilitation strategies.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of three different types of single-leg exercise training on people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD affects not only breathing but also blood vessel and muscle function, leading to exercise limitations and muscle fatigue. This trial focuses on how these exercise methods influence exercise capacity, muscle strength, lung function, muscle activity, lactate levels, arterial stiffness, and quality of life in COPD patients. The study divides participants into three groups, each receiving a different single-leg exercise training for six weeks: continuous exercise, high-intensity interval training, or resistance training. Each group performs their assigned exercise to assess changes in physical and respiratory function. Measurements include muscle strength tests, lung function evaluations, electromyography recordings, and lactate and arterial stiffness assessments. Participants will undergo tests before and after the intervention period, including a six-minute walk test, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, muscle strength assessments, and quality of life questionnaires. These evaluations help researchers monitor changes in functional capacity and health status. The study is randomized with single masking to compare the effects of the different exercise types over the six-week training period.