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Aquatic Power Training Dosing Strategies and Creatine Supplementation in Older Adults
Sponsor: University of Valencia
Summary
This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of different aquatic power training dosing strategies and creatine supplementation on functional and multisystem adaptations in community-dwelling older adults. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of five parallel groups: (1) aquatic power training regulated according to rating of perceived exertion during the first repetition (RPE-1) plus placebo; (2) aquatic power training using a conventional time-based dosing strategy plus placebo; (3) time-based aquatic power training plus creatine supplementation; (4) sedentary control plus placebo; or (5) sedentary control plus creatine supplementation. The intervention will last 16 weeks. Aquatic training will be performed three times per week for approximately 60 minutes per session. Participants allocated to creatine supplementation will receive 3 g/day of creatine monohydrate, whereas the corresponding placebo groups will receive a visually indistinguishable placebo following the same supplementation schedule. The primary outcomes will assess body composition, muscle strength, and functional capacity. Additional outcomes will examine bone health, cardiometabolic health, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, immune function, neurobiological and cognitive function, quality of life, sleep quality, psychological status, fatigue, and affective state. Assessments will be performed before and after the 16-week intervention.
Official title: Optimization of Aquatic Power Training Dosing Strategies and the Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Functional and Multisystem Adaptations in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
60 Years - 99 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
100
Start Date
2026-10-15
Completion Date
2027-05-15
Last Updated
2026-11-03
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
RPE-1 Aquatic Power Training-Placebo
Participants will complete a 16-week supervised aquatic power training program, consisting of three sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes. Exercises will be performed at maximal intended movement velocity. For each exercise, participants will perform 4 sets of 8 repetitions. Exercise intensity will be regulated using ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) obtained during the set. During the first repetition (RPE-1), the target RPE will be 4 for the active muscles or 3 for the overall body. By the last repetition of the set, the target RPE will be 6 for the active muscles or 5 for the overall body. Participants will perform active recovery for 120 seconds between sets and 90 seconds between exercises. This RPE-based dosing strategy will be used to individualize the aquatic power training stimulus according to each participant's perceived exertion while maintaining maximal intended movement velocity.
Time-Based Aquatic Power Training-Placebo
Participants will complete a 16-week supervised aquatic power training program, consisting of three sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes. Exercises will be performed at maximal intended movement velocity. The training structure will follow the same general protocol as the RPE-1 aquatic power training condition. However, instead of prescribing exercise volume according to a fixed number of repetitions regulated by RPE-1, participants will perform each exercise for an execution time equivalent to that required to complete the RPE-1 protocol. Participants will be instructed to perform the exercises at maximal intended movement velocity throughout the prescribed execution period. The maximu Participants will receive a placebo visually indistinguishable from the creatine supplement. The placebo will be administered daily throughout the 16-week intervention, including non-training days, following the same supplementation schedule as the creatine condition.
Time-Based Aquatic Power Training + Creatine
Participants will complete a 16-week supervised aquatic power training program, consisting of three sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes. Exercises will be performed at maximal intended movement velocity. The training structure will follow the same general protocol as the RPE-1 aquatic power training condition. However, instead of prescribing exercise volume according to a fixed number of repetitions regulated by RPE-1, participants will perform each exercise for an execution time equivalent to that required to complete the RPE-1 protocol. Participants will be instructed to perform the exercises at maximal intended movement velocity throughout the prescribed execution period. The maxi Participants will additionally receive 3 g/day of creatine monohydrate throughout the 16-week intervention. Participants will receive 3 g/day of creatine monohydrate for 16 weeks. Creatine will be administered daily, including non-training days, without a loading phase.
Sedentary Control + Placebo
Participants allocated to this group will not participate in the aquatic power training intervention and will receive placebo supplementation daily throughout the 16-week study period. Participants will be instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle and habitual physical activity and not to initiate a structured moderate- or high-intensity strength or power training program during the intervention period. Participants will receive a placebo visually indistinguishable from the creatine supplement. The placebo will be administered daily throughout the 16-week intervention following the same supplementation schedule as the creatine condition.
Sedentary Control + Creatine
Participants allocated to this group will not participate in the aquatic power training intervention and will receive 3 g/day of creatine monohydrate throughout the 16-week study period. Participants will be instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle and habitual physical activity and not to initiate a structured moderate- or high-intensity strength or power training program during the intervention period.
Locations (1)
Physical activity and Sport Science Faculty
Valencia, Valencia, Spain