CompletedNot Applicable

Muscle-Tendon Mechanics During Locomotor Tasks, Efficacy of Collagen Supplementation for Older Adults

United Kingdom21 participantsStarted 2019-01-15

Plain-language summary

Older adults are at higher risks of tripping and falling than young adults. These falls may lead to serious injuries (bone fractures, head trauma…) and premature death. They also have an important economic cost for the society. One of the reasons identified for this increased risk of falling is the modification of muscles and tendons functional and architectural parameters with age. It is now well established that muscles of older adults are smaller and weaker, while tendons, that modulate the outcomes of muscle contraction, are less able to resist to tension and transmit forces more slowly than in young age. These changes have functional implications, especially in tasks that require to quickly generate high forces, such as recovering from a trip. This study aims to determine the links between muscle-tendon characteristics and locomotion, and to understand whether they can be improved by a four-months collagen supplementation. The investigators will measure the muscular strength and tendon stiffness of lower limb musculotendinous units (MTU) for older adults using isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) and ultrasounds. Participants' abilities to recover from a trip will then be evaluated using a custom built tripping device while walking on a treadmill (participants will wear a whole body harness attached to a rope secured to the ceiling). These performances will be linked to MTU characteristics and compared between both age groups. Finally, the investigators will evaluate the effect of a nutritional supplementation on the mechanical properties of elderly tendons and its potential impacts on their ability to safely recover from a trip, on their lean mass, and on other life quality related markers (joint pain, balance, stair climbing capacities...). The investigators expect that this study will lead to a new intervention aiming to improve the safety of older adults performing their daily activities using nutritional supplementation, which is known to have better adherence than training interventions.

Who can participate

Age range

50 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women over 50 years * Mean age: maximum 65 years Exclusion Criteria: * Any lower limb injury in the last 6 months * A joint replacement * Neural, musculoskeletal or balance disorder that could affect the musculoskeletal system or capacity to execute functional tasks * Be taking any nutritional supplements that affect muscle or tendon size or function or stopped its intake less than 3 months before the baseline * Presence of systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular, kidney, liver or lung disease) * Pregnant or breast feeding * History of drug abuse * Taking anti-inflammatory medication within 24 hours the baseline * Allergic to any ingredient in the test products (meat, fish or soy) * Concurrent participation in other clinical studies * Taking medication to treat a chronic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and inflammatory joint disease for example bursitis or tennis elbow, and any other type of chronic pain syndrome other than osteoarthritis)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

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Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Tendon stiffness

Timeframe: at baseline and after the end of the supplementation period (4-months)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03563261

SponsorLiverpool John Moores University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-06-15

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Tendon Stiffness With Age trials