Home exercise program to help Veterans recover after a recently healed diabetic foot ulcer
Official title: Home-based exercise to improve functional outcomes in Veterans with recently healed diabetic foot ulcer
Funded at Baltimore VA Medical Center · NIH-11132619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A home-based exercise program designed to help Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer regain strength, mobility, and independence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004897-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans whose diabetic foot ulcer has recently healed and who are able to participate in home-based walking and strengthening activities are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People with active, unhealed foot ulcers, those who cannot walk safely, or who have medical conditions that prohibit exercise are unlikely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If your diabetic foot ulcer has recently healed, this project offers a tailored set of exercises you can do at home to rebuild walking ability and leg strength. The team will teach the exercises, provide support, and track how your mobility and daily function change over time. The program is designed for people who lost mobility during off-loading treatment and want to safely increase activity without risking a new ulcer. Measurements will focus on walking, balance, and everyday tasks to see if the exercises help you get back to normal activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help people regain mobility more quickly and lower the risk of future ulcer complications and related disability.
How similar studies have gone: Home exercise programs have helped people with diabetes improve strength and walking, but applying them specifically after a recently healed diabetic foot ulcer is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roghmann, Mary-Claire — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Roghmann, Mary-Claire
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving Diabetic Foot Ulcer Offloading with User-Friendly Cast Walker Design
A small pilot study to see how different removable cast walker designs affect daily use and healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
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Home-based exercise to help Veterans recover after healed diabetic foot ulcers
A home-based exercise program for Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer to improve walking and daily function.
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Wound fluid test to predict healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This project looks for chemical signals in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers that could tell adults with diabetes whether a wound will heal with standard care or need a different treatment.
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Identifying biomarkers in wound fluid for diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at special substances in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers to see if they can help doctors predict how well the wounds will heal, which could lead to better and more personalized treatments for people with these types of wounds.
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Investigating gene markers that affect healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at how inflammation affects the healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, and it's creating a special test to help doctors understand how well these wounds are healing so they can provide better, personalized care for patients.
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Understanding Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing
This project aims to find a way to predict how well diabetic foot ulcers will heal by looking at specific markers related to inflammation.
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.