We need people to take part in a study
We are looking for people aged 65 years and over, who have problems with their walking, or are walking more slowly than before.
In the MMoST trial, all participants take part in an exercise programme to improve walking and muscle strength. Half of the participants are also given protein drinks to help build their muscles. We are trying to find out if having protein drinks make the exercise programme work better.
What is the purpose of the study?
Walking is the key to remaining independent and doing things we enjoy in later life. As we get older, our muscles get smaller and weaker, and we may find walking more difficult. One way to improve walking is through exercises that build muscles. Having extra protein in your diet may also help. However, we do not know this for certain, so we want to undertake a study to find this out.
What is protein?
Protein is made up of chemicals called amino acids. Your body uses these amino acids to build and repair muscles. Protein is found in many foods including meat, fish, milk, yoghurt, cheese, nuts, seeds, lentils, beans, chickpeas, and tofu. Some older people may benefit from adding extra protein to their diet. Adding extra protein by having a protein drink may make exercises work better by building stronger muscles.
What are we hoping to learn?
We want to find out if older people who take extra protein by having a protein drink, as well as joining an exercise programme, experience better walking and have a better quality of life.
Large studies are expensive and challenging to run, so we are starting with this smaller study to make sure that it is possible to run a larger study. We want to check that we can find enough people who may benefit from extra protein and are willing to take part. We also want to ensure that participants are happy to take protein supplements and how easy it is for NHS physiotherapy departments and participants to conduct the exercise sessions.
What you would be asked to do
There are three eligibility checks. Firstly, a research nurse will telephone you to make sure the study is right for you. Then, you will visit the study centre local to you for an assessment, including a dietary assessment to work out how much protein you usually eat, to take a small blood sample and some physical measurements (travel costs paid). The final check is a second dietary assessment done via the computer or over the phone.
If you pass all three checks, you will be enrolled in a 24-week exercise programme designed especially for you by a physiotherapist to improve your walking. You will attend a weekly exercise class for 16 weeks at your local site and exercise at home once a week. When the classes finish, you will do 8 weeks of home exercises twice a week, with telephone support from the physiotherapist.
Half the participants will take daily protein drinks. These will be delivered to your home (free of charge). The drinks are not suitable for people with milk or soya allergies or who are intolerant to lactose. A physiotherapist or dietitian will review you regularly throughout the study.
Eight months after starting the study, you will go to the study centre for a final assessment and blood samples (travel costs paid).
Reasons you may not be able to take part
We need to ensure it is safe for people to take part in the study. Therefore, you will not be able to take part if, you are unable to walk 3 meters without physical assistance; live in a residential care or nursing home; have been diagnosed with dementia (or would be unable to safely follow verbal instructions); have Parkinson’s disease, dysphagia (or require a modified diet due to swallowing problems), or severe kidney disease; if you are already taking protein supplements or taking insulin to control diabetes or if you are allergic to milk or soya or you are lactose intolerant.