A program to improve walking skills in older Veterans
The Live Long Walk Strong rehabilitation program: What features improve mobility skills?
This study is looking at a special program called Live Long Walk Strong that helps Veterans aged 50 and older who walk slowly to improve their walking skills and overall mobility, and we want to see if this program works better than regular rehab.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141546 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the Live Long Walk Strong (LLWS) rehabilitation program, which aims to enhance mobility skills in Veterans aged 50 and older who experience slow walking speed. The program focuses on improving specific physical attributes such as leg power, trunk muscle endurance, gait coordination, and self-efficacy in exercise. By addressing these unconventional treatment targets, the study seeks to determine if LLWS can lead to significant improvements in gait speed compared to standard rehabilitation care. Participants will be involved in a phase II randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of this innovative approach.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans aged 50 and older who have been screened for slow gait speed.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have issues with walking speed or those who are not Veterans may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mobility and functional independence for older Veterans, reducing their risk of hospitalization and disability.
How similar studies have performed: Previous civilian-based projects have shown promising results for the LLWS program, indicating potential success in this clinical trial.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- VA Boston Health Care System — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bean, Jonathan F — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Bean, Jonathan F
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.