A system to monitor muscle strength and prevent decline in older adults
Official title: BandPass: A Remote Monitoring System for Sarcopenia and Functional Decline
Funded at Synchrohealth LLC · NIH-11099531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new exercise band that connects to your phone to help older adults keep their muscles strong and stay independent by tracking their workouts and giving helpful feedback.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Synchrohealth LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lyme, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $50,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R42AG071290-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults at risk of sarcopenia or functional decline who are prescribed resistance exercise programs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not engaged in resistance exercise or those with severe mobility limitations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a remote monitoring system called BandPass, designed to help older adults maintain their muscle strength and prevent functional decline. The system uses a Bluetooth-enabled resistance exercise band that tracks exercise performance and provides feedback to both patients and clinicians. By accurately measuring the force exerted during resistance exercises, it aims to enhance adherence to prescribed exercise regimens, which are crucial for recovery and independence in older adults. The device addresses the limitations of traditional self-reporting methods, offering a more reliable way to monitor progress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the ability of older adults to maintain their muscle strength and independence, reducing the risk of serious health complications.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using remote monitoring technologies to enhance exercise adherence and outcomes in older populations, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Synchrohealth LLC
Lyme, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halter, Ryan Joseph — Synchrohealth LLC
- Study coordinator: Halter, Ryan Joseph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
MiRNA roles in age-related muscle loss and NMJ health
This project explores how small RNA molecules called miRNAs influence muscle aging and the neuromuscular junction in adults.
-
Multiscale microgels delivering GDNF and agrin to help with sarcopenia
Aimed at older adults with muscle loss, this project tests a new treatment that slowly releases biological factors to support nerve-muscle connections and improve strength when combined with or for people who can’t do intense resistance training.
-
Frailty and sarcopenia in aging adults
Aging adults, especially women, may develop frailty and muscle loss, and this project explores how muscle blood flow and inflammation relate to these conditions and to dementia and heart problems.
-
High-field MRI to detect muscle changes in age-related muscle loss
Very strong MRI scans will measure muscle quality, fat, and chemistry in older adults with sarcopenia.
-
LA-rich oil to help strong muscles as we age
A study will test whether adding a linoleic acid–rich oil to the diet improves muscle strength and walking ability in older adults with sarcopenia.
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.