High-intensity strength rehab for older adults in nursing facilities after hospital stays
Advancing Rehabilitation Paradigms for Older Adults in Skilled Nursing Facilities
This project uses stronger, higher-intensity physical therapy in skilled nursing facilities to help older adults rebuild strength and return home after a hospital stay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11112327 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are an older adult admitted to a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay, this project replaces the usual low-intensity therapy with higher-intensity resistance exercise designed to rebuild muscle and improve daily function. The approach will be implemented across multiple SNFs and delivered by rehabilitation staff as part of routine care. Researchers will track measures like muscle strength, ability to do daily activities, discharge to home versus long-term care, and length of stay, and will study how the program works in real-world facility settings. The project also looks at the processes and biological mechanisms behind recovery to inform broader use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 or older who are admitted to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after a recent hospital stay due to deconditioning.
Not a fit: Patients with unstable medical conditions, those receiving only palliative care, or those unable to participate in higher-intensity exercise (for safety or severe cognitive impairment) may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more older adults could regain strength faster, be more able to return to their homes, and spend fewer days in skilled nursing facilities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials of high-intensity resistance rehabilitation have shown improved strength and better discharge outcomes, but wider implementation across multiple SNFs remains less tested.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stevens-Lapsley, Jennifer E. — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Stevens-Lapsley, Jennifer E.
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.