Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

Eastern Colorado GRECC Research Studies

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Studies Currently Recruiting

Eastern Colorado GRECC is involved in research to enhance and benefit the lives of Veterans and their caregivers. Some of the research requires volunteers. Please take a look at this list of studies currently recruiting participants:

Enhancing Skeletal Adaptations – PTH and Exercise (ESkAPE)

Purpose: We want to know if exercise training impacts how certain bone markers in your blood respond to exercise over time.

To participate: You must be:

1. a Veteran of any branch of the US Military;
2. be between the ages of 25-45 years OR 55- 75 years and in generally good health;
3. are used to some exercise but are not regularly exercising;
4. no history of cardiovascular disease or type I diabetes

Contact: If you are interested in the ESkAPE study, contact Sarah Wherry at 303-704-8054 or sarah.wherry@va.gov.

PI: Wendy M. Kohrt, PhD; COMIRB # 21-3163

Exercise and Bone Biomarkers (EBB)

Purpose: We want to know if the type of exercise (stationary cycling versus walking on a treadmill) impacts how certain bone markers in your blood respond to exercise.

To participate: You must be:

1. a Veteran of any branch of the US Military;
2. be at least 60 years old and in generally good health;
3. are used to regular exercise lasting at least 1 hour;
4. not taking osteoporosis medication;
5. no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Contact: If you are interested in the EBB study, contact Sarah Wherry at 303-704-8054 or sarah.wherry@va.gov.

PI: Sarah Wherry, PhD; COMIRB # 21-2580

Improving health self-management using walking biobehavioral intervention for people with dysvascular lower limb amputation (DASH)

Purpose: Our ultimate goal is to optimize quality of life and minimize disability for people with dysvascular lower-limb amputation through improved health self-management. An initial step toward that goal is to test a walking biobehavioral intervention in the context of conventional post-amputation care.

Participants receive:

• Four physical function and activity examinations at home or in the rehabilitation clinic
• Financial compensation
• Direct interaction with an expert therapy team

You may qualify if you:

1. Are 50-85 years old
2. Have a recent lower limb amputation
3. Plan to pursue walking with a prosthesis

Contact: Emily.hager@cuanschutz.edu, 303-724-6035

Investigator: Cory Christiansen, PT, PhD COMIRB #: 19-0534

Mode of Exercise Training on the Bone Response to Exercise in Older Veterans (MoVe)

Purpose: We want to know if the mode of exercise training (resistance exercise versus endurance exercise) impacts how certain bone markers in your blood respond to exercise.

To participate: You must be:

1. a Veteran of any branch of the US Military;
2. be at least 60 years old and in generally good health;
3. are used to some exercise but are not regularly exercising;
4. no history of cardiovascular disease or type I diabetes

Contact: If you are interested in the MoVe study, contact Sarah Wherry at 303-704-8054 or sarah.wherry@va.gov.

PI: Sarah Wherry, PhD; COMIRB # 21-4742

Optimizing gait rehabilitation for Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation (GEM)

Purpose: Our ultimate goal is to optimize walking ability and reduce disability for Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation by improving gait pattern quality and limiting potential negative secondary effects of increased walking activity.

Participants receive:

• Three examinations measuring residual limb health and walking symmetry over 4 months
• Eight treadmill walking training sessions over 4 weeks
• Financial compensation
• Direct interaction with a physical therapist and a prosthetist with knowledge about lower limb amputations and walking patterns

You may qualify if you:

1. Are at least 50 years old
2. Have a below the knee amputation between 6 months and 10 years ago

Contact: Emily.hager@cuanschutz.edu, 303-724-6035

Investigator: Cory Christiansen, PT, PhD COMIRB #: 19-0996

Optimizing Physical Activity Outcomes for Veterans After Total Knee Arthroplasty (ART)

Purpose: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to determine efficacy of physical activity behavior-change telerehabilitation on improving physical activity after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Participants receive:

• Four examinations measuring physical function and activity for 9 months after surgery at the participant’s home
• Financial compensation for time to participants
• Direct interaction with a therapist with expertise on physical activity behavior change over the first 6 months of the study

You may qualify if you:

1. Are 50-85 years old
2. Have a planned total knee arthroplasty

Contact: Emily.hager@cuanschutz.edu, 303-724-6035

Investigator: Cory Christiansen, PT, PhD COMIRB #: 17-0079

Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Veterans

Intervention Participants Receive

• 12-weeks of physical therapy 2-3 times/week with individual and group sessions provided by a physical therapist
• 4 additional coaching sessions with a physical therapist during weeks 13-24
• Fitbit

Control Participants Receive

• 6 general health education sessions during weeks 1-12
• 10 health check-in telephone calls during weeks 1-24
• Fitbit following study completion.

Who Can Participate?

You may be eligible to participate if you fit the following criteria:

• 60 years of age or older
• Have 3 or more medical conditions.
• Have difficulty getting out of a chair.

Final determination of eligibility will be made by program staff.

Interested in Hearing More? Contact Us!

Call 303.724.9590

email: PT.studies@cuanschutz.edu

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