"NO LOAD" resistance training increases functional capacity and muscle size in hospitalized female patients: A pilot study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized trial comparing two active training interventions
PubMed 31908746 · doi:10.4081/ejtm.2019.8492
What was done
Twenty hospitalized female patients (mean age 59.05 ± 3.2 years) were randomized to either no-load resistance training (NLRT, performing maximal voluntary contractions without external resistance) or resistance training with elastic bands (RTEB). Both groups completed training sessions three times per week for five weeks. Evaluated outcomes were ultrasound-assessed muscle thickness of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and pectoralis major, along with functional capacity measured by the 30-second elbow flexion test.
What was found
Muscle thickness increased significantly across all evaluated muscles in both groups with no significant between-group differences, showing relative increases ranging from 14% to 38%. Functional performance in the 30-second elbow flexion test improved significantly by 42.7% in the NLRT group and 52.1% in the RTEB group, with no statistically significant difference between modalities.
Why it matters
This pilot trial suggests that intentional maximal voluntary contractions without equipment can elicit upper-limb hypertrophy and functional gains in hospitalized individuals. It offers a zero-cost, feasible alternative for inpatient rehabilitation when standard resistance equipment is unavailable.
Limits
The study had a very small pilot sample (n=20) and included only female patients. There was no non-exercise control group to rule out spontaneous recovery or standard care effects. The abstract does not report underlying clinical diagnoses, specific p-values, or confidence intervals.