scholarly journals Effects of flexi-bar training on muscle strength and physical performance in older people with dynapenia: the protocol of a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e048629
Author(s):  
Ning Wei ◽  
Xinxin Wang ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
Mengyu Lyu
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Older People ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Human Ethics ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionDynapenia is a new term that is used to describe the age-related loss of muscle strength. Flexi-bar training is a safe and feasible device for older people with dynapenia. This study will investigate the effects of a 12-week flexi-bar training programme on muscle strength and physical function in older people with dynapenia.Methods and analysisA total of 114 participants (aged more than 65 years) with age-related muscle loss will participate in a 12-week flexi-bar training programme. The participants will be randomly divided into three groups, namely, flexi-bar, placebo and control, with equal number of participants in each group. The assessments will be conducted at preintervention, postintervention and 12 weeks after training completion. The primary outcome is timed-up-and-go test. The secondary outcomes are five-repetition sit-to-stand test, 10-metre walking test, handgrip strength, as well as the serum albumin and haemoglobin levels.Ethics and disseminationThe procedures of this study were reviewed and approved by the Human Ethics Review Board of Wuhan Brain Hospital (General Hospital of the Yangtze River Shipping) on 29 September 2020 (#L20200013). The findings of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. The trial was registered on 6 November 2020.Trial registration numberISRCTN14316668.

scholarly journals Elastic-band resistance exercise or vibration treatment in combination with hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB) supplement for management of sarcopenia in older people: a study protocol for a single-blinded randomised controlled trial in Hong Kong

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e034921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Kwoon-Ho Chow ◽  
Yu-Ning Chim ◽  
Keith Yu-Kin Cheng ◽  
Chung-Yan Ho ◽  
Wing-Tung Ho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Older People ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Elastic Band ◽  
Vibration Treatment ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionSarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterised by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function with risks of adverse outcomes and becomes more prevalent due to ageing population. Elastic-band exercise, vibration treatment and hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation were previously proven to have positive effects on the control of sarcopenia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of elastic-band exercise or vibration treatment with HMB supplementation in managing sarcopenia. Our findings will provide a safe and efficient strategy to mitigate the progression of sarcopenia in older people and contribute to higher quality of life as well as improved long-term health outcomes of elderly people.Methods and analysisIn this single-blinded, randomised controlled trial (RCT), subjects will be screened for sarcopenia based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) definition and 144 sarcopenic subjects aged 65 or above will be recruited. This RCT will have three groups evaluated at two time points to measure changes over 3 months—the control and the groups with combined HMB supplement and elastic-band resistance exercise or vibration treatment. Changes in muscle strength in lower extremity will be the primary outcome. Muscle strength in the upper extremity, gait speed, muscle mass (based on AWGS definition), functional performance in terms of balancing ability and time-up-and-go test and quality of life will be taken as secondary outcomes. In addition, each participant’s daily activity will be monitored by a wrist-worn activity tracker. Repeated-measures analysis of variance will be performed to compare within-subject changes between control and treatment groups at two time points of pretreatments and post-treatments.Ethics and disseminationThe procedures have been approved by the Joint CUHK-NTEC Clinical Research Management Office (Ref. CREC 2018.602) and conformed to the Declaration of Helsinki. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and workshops.Trial registration numberNCT04028206.

scholarly journals Implementing a multi-modal support service model for the family caregivers of persons with age-related macular degeneration: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e018204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bamini Gopinath ◽  
Ashley Craig ◽  
Annette Kifley ◽  
Gerald Liew ◽  
Jaye Bloffwitch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Support Service ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness and low vision among older adults. Previous research shows a high prevalence of distress and disruption to the lifestyle of family caregivers of persons with late AMD. This supports existing evidence that caregivers are ‘hidden patients’ at risk of poor health outcomes. There is ample scope for improving the support available to caregivers, and further research should be undertaken into developing services that are tailored to the requirements of family caregivers of persons with AMD. This study aims to implement and evaluate an innovative, multi-modal support service programme that aims to empower family caregivers by improving their coping strategies, enhancing hopeful feelings such as self-efficacy and helping them make the most of available sources of social and financial support.Methods and analysisA randomised controlled trial consisting of 360 caregiver–patient pairs (180 in each of the intervention and wait-list control groups). The intervention group will receive the following: (1) mail-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy designed to improve psychological adjustment and adaptive coping skills; (2) telephone-delivered group counselling sessions allowing caregivers to explore the impacts of caring and share their experiences; and (3) education on available community services/resources, financial benefits and respite services. The cognitive behavioural therapy embedded in this programme is the best evaluated and widely used psychosocial intervention. The primary outcome is a reduction in caregiver burden. Secondary outcomes include improvements in caregiver mental well-being, quality of life, fatigue and self-efficacy. Economic analysis will inform whether this intervention is cost-effective and if it is feasible to roll out this service on a larger scale.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the University of Sydney human research ethics committee. Study findings will be disseminated via presentations at national/international conferences and peer-reviewed journal articles.Trial registration numberThe trial registration number is ACTRN12616001461482; pre-results.

scholarly journals Effect of intensive treatment for schistosomiasis on immune responses to vaccines among rural Ugandan island adolescents: randomised controlled trial protocol A for the ‘POPulation differences in VACcine responses’ (POPVAC) programme

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e040426
Author(s):  
Gyaviira Nkurunungi ◽  
Ludoviko Zirimenya ◽  
Jacent Nassuuna ◽  
Agnes Natukunda ◽  
Prossy N Kabuubi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Population Differences ◽  
Vaccine Response ◽  
Vaccine Responses ◽  
Helminth Infections ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionSeveral licensed and investigational vaccines have lower efficacy, and induce impaired immune responses, in low-income versus high-income countries and in rural, versus urban, settings. Understanding these population differences is essential to optimising vaccine effectiveness in the tropics. We suggest that repeated exposure to and immunomodulation by chronic helminth infections partly explains population differences in vaccine response.Methods and analysisWe have designed an individually randomised, parallel group trial of intensive versus standard praziquantel (PZQ) intervention against schistosomiasis, to determine effects on vaccine response outcomes among school-going adolescents (9–17 years) from rural Schistosoma mansoni-endemic Ugandan islands. Vaccines to be studied comprise BCG on day ‘zero’; yellow fever, oral typhoid and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines at week 4; and HPV and tetanus/diphtheria booster vaccine at week 28. The intensive arm will receive PZQ doses three times, each 2 weeks apart, before BCG immunisation, followed by a dose at week 8 and quarterly thereafter. The standard arm will receive PZQ at week 8 and 52. We expect to enrol 480 participants, with 80% infected with S. mansoni at the outset.Primary outcomes are BCG-specific interferon-γ ELISpot responses 8 weeks after BCG immunisation and for other vaccines, antibody responses to key vaccine antigens at 4 weeks after immunisation. Secondary analyses will determine the effects of intensive anthelminthic treatment on correlates of protective immunity, on waning of vaccine response, on priming versus boosting immunisations and on S. mansoni infection status and intensity. Exploratory immunology assays using archived samples will enable assessment of mechanistic links between helminths and vaccine responses.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been obtained from relevant ethics committes of Uganda and UK. Results will be shared with Uganda Ministry of Health, relevant district councils, community leaders and study participants. Further dissemination will be done through conference proceedings and publications.Trial registration numberISRCTN60517191.

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