Effects of Ultrasound on Healthy Aging
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Summary
The investigators will study the effects of an ultrasound bath device that uses low-frequency ultrasound on the healthy aging. Participants will have before and after ultrasound assessments of muscle and thinking skills, aging related to the immune system, and body make-up. The group that is assigned to get the ultrasound will have low-frequency ultrasound in a bathtub for 45 minutes, three times weekly for 8 weeks, and the control group will be in the bathtub without the ultrasound turned on.
Description
The general approach and study design is that the investigators will recruit 20 healthy older adults (equal numbers of men and women) for the first phase. 10 participants will be randomized to the ultrasound group and 10 will be randomized to the control group. Participants will be stratified by gender and ten randomized to treatment arms. Prior to beginning the intervention, each participant will be tested for muscle function, cognitive function, blood samples will be used to assess immune aging function, and body composition. Each participant will then sit in a bathtub which has been fitted…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 70+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Males and females; Age 70 or older 2. BMI \<40 kg/m2 3. Ability to walk up a flight of stairs and short ladder 4. Ability to get in and out of a bath 5. Willingness to adhere to the spa treatments regimen Exclusion Criteria: 1. To accommodate the participants comfortably in our spa, participants with body weight \>350 pounds, body girth ≥ 50 inches and height ≥ 6 feet 8 inches will be excluded. 2. Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the participant at increased risk for participation. 3. Fecal or urinary incontinence (daily use…
Interventions
- DeviceUltrasound spa
Each participant will sit in a bathtub which has been fitted with an ultrasound device which produces low frequency sound waves within the water.
- OtherSham ultrasound spa
The control group will sit in the same tub for 45 minutes, 3 times per week for 8 weeks but without the ultrasound being turned on.
Location
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas