High-intensity strength rehab for older adults in skilled nursing facilities
Advancing Rehabilitation Paradigms for Older Adults in Skilled Nursing Facilities
This project uses higher-intensity resistance exercise to help older adults in skilled nursing facilities rebuild muscle and regain independence 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-11380110 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you go to a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay, this project will offer stronger resistance-based physical therapy sessions aimed at rebuilding muscle and improving daily activities. Therapists will deliver higher-intensity strength exercises instead of the usual low-intensity routines across multiple SNFs in a pragmatic approach. The team will track your physical function, ability to do daily activities, discharge destination (home versus facility), and length of stay, and will collect information on how the program is delivered. The goal is to learn whether this approach helps more people return home and stay independent.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults (generally age 65 and up) admitted to a participating skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay for deconditioning are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not admitted to a skilled nursing facility, or who have medical conditions that make high-intensity resistance exercise unsafe (for example, unstable heart disease, uncontrolled pain, or those in hospice care), may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help more older adults recover muscle strength faster, shorten stays in skilled nursing facilities, and increase the chance of returning home.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller trials and prior programs have shown that higher-intensity resistance rehabilitation can improve function and discharge rates, but this pragmatic multi-site effort seeks broader confirmation.
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.