Home-based high-intensity interval training to reduce frailty in older veterans
Official title: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) to Reduce Frailty and Enhance Resilience in Older Veterans
Funded at Kansas City VA Medical Center · NIH-11360817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program tests whether a short, home-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) routine can help older U.S. veterans become stronger, more resilient, and less likely to become frail.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003813-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are U.S. veterans aged 65 or older who are medically stable but show early signs of frailty or reduced physical resilience and can safely perform moderate-to-high intensity home exercise.
✕Less likely to help
People with unstable cardiovascular disease, severe mobility impairments, or other medical conditions that make high-intensity exercise unsafe would likely not benefit and may be excluded.
What this research studies
If I join, I'll follow a tailored 12-week HIIT exercise plan I can do at home with regular check-ins from the VA team. The study team will measure my strength, balance, daily function, and some biological markers before and after the program to see if I recover better from stress and avoid frailty. Wearable monitors and a few clinic visits for testing or sample collection may be required. Researchers will compare results across participants to learn who benefits most and which signs of resilience change.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help older veterans regain strength and recover more quickly from illness or falls, reducing disability and hospital stays.
How similar studies have gone: A prior VA pilot showed 12 weeks of HIIT is feasible in older veterans and HIIT has improved fitness in other older adult studies, but its effect specifically on frailty and resilience is still being studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas City VA Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Troen, Bruce R. — Kansas City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Troen, Bruce R.
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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.