Background

Exercise with moderate external limb compression is a novel strategy which exaggerates the adaptations of the muscles to training. This novel approach to using low-intensity exercise could be beneficial for individuals unable to lifts heavier weights or learning new exercise techniques.

What Does Your Participation Involve?

You will be required to undertake a 12-week weights training program at Murdoch University’s exercise science laboratories (exercising 3x per week), followed by a 4-week period where you cease the exercise (total 16 weeks). Before beginning the exercise program, you will be randomly allocated to train with inflatable cuffs on your legs for the first 4 weeks of training or to train normally without cuffs. Prior to the training program beginning and at 4-week intervals throughout the study (i.e. 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks), you will also complete a series of assessments to measure how your body composition, strength levels, and functional abilities are changing with the exercise. All training/testing sessions will take between 30-60 minutes, and will be scheduled at times that are convenient for you.

Inclusion criteria are as follows:

• Healthy male or female aged 60+ years
• Not currently engaged in resistance training, and have not undertaken resistance training in the previous 6 months
• Body mass index <30 kg·m^-2
• Not suffering from uncontrolled hypertension, neuromuscular disease, terminal disease, myocardial infarction in the past 6 months, unstable cardiovascular disease or a fracture within the last 6 months
• Strength-to-weight ratio (knee extensor force divided by body mass) below 1.71 Nm·kg^-1 for males and 1.34 Nm·kg^-1 for females

If you are interested or have any further queries, please contact Kieran Marston via the details below.

Kieran Marston (PhD Candidate, Exercise Science)
Email: K.Marston@murdoch.edu.au
Phone: 0433 972 216