Movement Velocity Biofeedback for Sarcopenia in Older Adults

This study is looking at how different ways of giving feedback during exercise might help older adults with sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). Participants will use a leg press machine. One group will receive "External Focus" feedback, meaning they'll be shown their movement speed for each repetition. The other group, called "Internal Focus," will not receive these cues. Researchers want to see if the type of feedback affects how much your muscles activate, how much your movement speed changes during exercise, and your motivation. You may be able to join if you are between 60 and 95 years old, live independently, and have sarcopenia. The study aims to help physical therapists improve resistance training for older adults.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 60 participants. It compares two different behavioral approaches to exercise.
What's involved
You will perform a warm-up and then 30 repetitions on a leg press machine. Measurements will be taken at baseline, Week 1, and Week 2.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your muscle activation, velocity loss, and motivation will be measured at Week 1 and Week 2 timepoints.

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NCT06853275

The Influence of Movement Velocity Biofeedback on Muscle Activation and Self Perception in Older Adults With Sarcopenia

Recruiting
NAAges 60–95InterventionalBasic science
Creighton University
~60 participants
Updated 2026-03-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Experimental: External FocusOther: Internal Focus

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Percent Velocity Loss
Measured over Week 1 and Week 2 Timepoints
+3 more outcomes measured
Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia in Elderly
Age-associated Muscle Loss
1 sites across 1 states
Nebraska1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Community-dwelling older adults 60-95 years of age
Physically independent
Free of severe mental impairment
Score 4 or greater on the SARC-F sarcopenia questionnaire

Exclusion

Participated in a structured resistance training program in the last 12 months
Had a lower extremity injury or surgical intervention within the past 6 months
Have neuromuscular (i.e., Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis), circulatory, or edema pathology
  • Percent Velocity LossWeek 1 and Week 2 Timepoints

    The linear position transducer is a spring-powered retractable apparatus that attaches to the leg press on one end and to the machine near the participant's hip joint. Velocity data from a linear position transducer will be collected following each repetition. Percent velocity loss (%VL) measures the reduction in the movement speed from the initial repetition to the final repetition. The %VL will quantify the level of fatigue and performance decline that occurs throughout the repetitions of leg press. This would suggest that a higher %VL would indicate a greater degree of fatigue, while a lower %VL loss would indicate a better ability to maintain movement velocity across the repetitions.

  • Muscle ActivationBaseline, Week 1, and Week 2 Timepoints

    To examine muscle activation, surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals will be collected in millivolts (mV) during each repetition using wireless sEMG sensors from the right vastus lateralis. A higher number of millivolts is associated with greater muscular activation. All sEMG signals will use a commercially available signal acquisition system. To optimize signal quality, the skin will be prepared, and the surface electrodes will be secured to the skin with skin-sensor adhesive in a standardized position directly above the muscle in line with the muscle fiber pennation in a bipolar fashion. An electrogoniometer will be placed across the right knee's joint space. The electrogoniometer will be calibrated to 90° flexion and 180° full extension of the knee joint.

  • MotivationWeek 1 and Week 2 Timepoints

    The Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DDSQ) has been used to determine task stress and performance impact of stress on task completion. Our proposal focuses on the motivation construct (15 item questionnaire, \~5 minutes to complete) of the DDSQ which has been shown to be reliable and scored on a 4-point Likert scale (Extremely = 4 Very much = 3 Somewhat = 2 A little bit = 1 Not at all = 0). The maximum score possible is 60 points and minimum score possible is 0 points. Higher scores indicate higher motivation. Note that certain items are reverse coded when scoring. Motivation will be assessed before sessions to determine baseline motivation to complete the resistance training protocol and 10 minutes after the resistance training protocol to determine if the visual movement velocity biofeedback improves motivation throughout the resistance training protocol.

  • Perceived WorkloadWeek 1 and Week 2 Timepoints

    Perceived workload will be assessed using the NASA task index (NASA-TLX). This questionnaire assesses six separate indices that examine the mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration level following the completion of the resistance training protocol. Adjusted scores range from 0-500 with higher scores indicate greater demand, failure, higher effort, or higher frustration. The NASA-TLX will provide valuable information about how visual movement velocity biofeedback may change the perceived workload compared to the non-biofeedback condition.