Investigating how telehealth exercise training affects heart and metabolic health in wheelchair users
Official title: Examining the effects of live telehealth exercise training on cardiometabolic outcomes in wheelchair users
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11037937 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a fun exercise program that you can do from your wheelchair at home, using music to help improve your heart and overall health, and it's designed for people who are at risk for health issues because they don't move around much.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | February 20, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,558 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111059-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037937 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are wheelchair users aged 21 and older with poor cardiometabolic profiles, such as elevated triglycerides.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use wheelchairs or those without cardiometabolic risk factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving cardiometabolic health in wheelchair users through a telehealth exercise program. It involves a two-arm randomized controlled trial with 132 participants who have elevated cardiometabolic risk factors. The program utilizes a Movement-to-Music approach adapted for remote delivery, allowing real-time monitoring of vital signs during exercise sessions. Participants will engage in structured exercise to assess its effectiveness in reducing health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved heart and metabolic health outcomes for wheelchair users.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using exercise interventions for improving health outcomes in similar populations, though this specific telehealth approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilroy, Jereme — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wilroy, Jereme
Related research
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-
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-
Exercise training for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
This project tests whether blocking specific muscle nerve signals with a spinal fentanyl injection changes circulation, muscle fatigue, and exercise ability in people with HFpEF compared with healthy controls.
-
Cognitive-behavioral therapy then exercise to lower type 2 diabetes risk in teenage girls
Teen girls at risk for type 2 diabetes will try short-term talking therapy first, then structured exercise, to help lift mood, increase activity, and lower diabetes risk.
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.