Tele-Exercise in Veterans With Military Exposure
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Veterans in combat were exposed to a variety of airborne hazards, including oil well fire smoke, emissions from burn pits, and other substances associated with negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and cancer. More than 40% of Veterans enrolled in the VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) report functional limitations, such as difficulty running short distances. Veterans with burn pit exposures will benefit from physical activity interventions designed to improve functional ability and overall quality of life. Veterans with significant exposure to burn pits during their overseas military service will have a detailed documentation of their limitations and participate in either a 12-week coach-led tele-exercise intervention or standard of care. This project is designed to improve functional mobility and could be implemented for Veterans with burn pit exposure.
Description
The most ubiquitous air born hazards resulting from recent conflicts is likely emissions from burn pits used for slow disposal of a variety of wastes, including plastics, petroleum products, metal, rubber, medical waste, and human waste. Burn pits have been used as a waste disposal practice by the United States military for several decades but were more prominent and widespread in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The burning of these wastes produces toxins that have been demonstrated to produce toxicity in animal and human models and to increase the risk of cardiopulmonary disease…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 40+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran * Age \> or equal to 40 years * Self-reported exposure to burn pits and/or burn pit smoke during overseas military deployment (at least 6 hours per day during one or more deployments of at least three months) * ability to interact with study staff using video conferencing technology * ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Musculoskeletal or medical conditions which preclude participation in a tele-exercise program * Active severe mental health or psychiatric issues, including suicidality * Severe pulmonary disease (chronic supplement…
Interventions
- OtherTele-exercise
Exercise training 3x/week at home. Sessions include circuit exercises of aerobic and resistive training stations which are led remotely.
- OtherStandard of Care
Health education discussions and lectures 3x/week led remotely.
Location
- Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MDBaltimore, Maryland