Physical activity and health in jail: opportunities, barriers, and outcomes
Official title: Physical Opportunities and Health Impacts While Incarcerated
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11368486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in an Arizona jail will look at how physical activity opportunities affect health and well-being for people who are incarcerated and after they are released.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Arizona University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flagstaff, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $328,583 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD012388-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in the studied county jail who are incarcerated and able to participate in physical activity programs.
✕Less likely to help
Incarcerated individuals without access to PA opportunities or those with medical restrictions may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines how the amount and type of physical activity available in a county jail influence health while people are incarcerated and after they leave. Researchers will map current recreation and work-related activity options, collect health information, and track changes in blood pressure, anxiety, sleep, and other chronic-condition risks. The study will compare different access patterns to PA and their associations with health outcomes over time. Findings could guide jail policies to improve health for incarcerated individuals and support healthier transitions back into the community.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform jail programs that boost physical activity and reduce chronic-disease risk for people who are incarcerated and after release.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows physical activity can improve anxiety and blood pressure in controlled settings, but this is one of the first to examine real-world PA access in jail settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Camplain, Ricky — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Camplain, Ricky
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.