Does 'Exercise Snacking' improve muscle function in older adults?

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Does 'Exercise Snacking' improve muscle function in older adults?

  • IRAS ID

    212920

  • Contact name

    Oliver Perkin

  • Contact email

    o.j.perkin@bath.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Bath

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 11 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Muscles become progressively smaller and weaker as we age, however resistance exercise training and dietary protein supplementation has been shown to increase both muscle size and strength in older adults. Whilst machine- or free-weights-based progressive resistance exercise programmes and protein supplements have been shown to be safe and efficacious in improving muscle health in older adults, these may be costly, logistically challenging, or not attractive to this population. This research is designed to investigate the effect of 28 days of home-based, non-loaded, lower limb exercise not requiring exercise equipment or supervision, accompanied with a daily protein supplement in the form of commercially available yogurt, on the skeletal muscle health (i.e. function and size) of independent, community-dwelling older adults. This study will improve understanding of how zero-cost exercise strategies and everyday food items could be incorporated in daily routines of older adults to improve muscle function and mass.

  • REC name

    South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/SW/0300

  • Date of REC Opinion

    14 Nov 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion