Effect of nutritional supplementation on muscle and tendon properties.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Interactions of Muscle-Tendon Mechanics during Stair Climbing and Trip Recovery, and Efficacy of Collagen Supplementation for Functional Improvement for Older Adults
IRAS ID
244950
Contact name
Thomas O'Brien
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Older adults are at higher risks of falling than young adults. These falls may lead to serious injuries (bone fractures, head trauma…) and premature death. They also have a significant economic cost for the society (~£4.6 million a day to the NHS).
One of the reasons identified for this increased risk of falling is the ageing associate loss of muscles and tendons function and architecture. 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 forces being generated quickly, 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.
Overall, we will start by determining which muscle and tendon parameters are responsible for balance recovery after a perturbation of gait. Perturbations will be induced under 3 different conditions: unexpected arrest of the leg during early or late swing phase of the gait cycle or sudden acceleration of the treadmill belt during stance phase. Muscle and tendon properties will be determined using isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) and B-mode ultrasounds. Finally, we 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 perturbation, on their lean mass, and on other life quality related markers (joint pain, balance, stair climbing capacities...).
We 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.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0700
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion