Overview
The overall objective for this clinical trial is to provide evidence for internal and external cueing for physical therapists and other rehabilitation clinicians to optimize resistance training within rehabilitation for older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- What is the impact of external focus (providing velocity of movement for each repetition) compared to internal focus (i.e., no cues, control group) on physical percent velocity loss and neuromuscular activation in older adults with sarcopenia?
- Does internal and external focus influence motivation and perceptual workload following resistance training in older adults with sarcopenia?
Researchers will compare external focus to internal focus to see if external focus impacts percent velocity loss, motivation, and perceived workload.
Participants will:
- Visit the lab once per week for 3 weeks
- Perform exercise testing using a leg press
- Answer questionnaires regarding perceived workload and motivation before and after exercise
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- 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 Criteria:
- 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
