Physical DeconditioningNCT07210645
Development of a Power Training Program to Improve Mobility in Older Veterans
A study testing Gerofit Power Training in people with Physical Deconditioning and Mobility Decline, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The overall purpose of this study is to develop a power training intervention in partnership with Veterans participating in Gerofit and to evaluate the program's acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary participant outcomes (leg power, physical function and self-report participation). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Physical Deconditioning, Mobility Decline
- What is being tested?
- Gerofit Power Training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2027to 31 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Pilot Study Criteria:
- Veteran
- new enrollees of the Rocky Mountain Regional Gerofit Program
- ability to function independently in a group setting
Who cannot join
- inability to perform basic activities of daily living
- oxygen dependency
- unstable cardiac disease
- moderate to severe cognitive impairment (Montreal cognitive assessment scores < 24)
- proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- relative exclusions for participation in the in-person Gerofit exercise program including: open wounds, incontinence, and lack of transportation
Show all 9Show fewer
- inability to ambulate
- progressive neurological diagnoses (e.g. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis)
- individuals with planned orthopedic surgeries in the next 3 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Aurora, Colorado, 80045-7211
Mattie E Pontiff, PT DPT PhD, (337) 578-2252, MATTIE.PONTIFF@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU
Mattie E Pontiff, PT DPT PhD
About this study
The overall purpose of this study is to develop a power training intervention in partnership with Veterans participating in Gerofit and to evaluate the program's acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary participant outcomes (leg power, physical function and self-report participation).
Read the detailed description
The overall purpose of this project is to co-design a power training intervention for Veterans engaged in Gerofit and to assess its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary participant outcomes. Gerofit Veterans and exercise providers will participate in co-designing the power training intervention through interviews and feedback sessions. The power training program developed will be tested in the subsequent randomized feasibility pilot. This pilot aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a power training program in older Veterans participating in Gerofit using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Veterans newly enrolled in the Gerofit program will be randomized into power training and standard of care groups and will participate in exercise sessions over 6 months. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed by Veteran adherence to program components and by validated surveys. Quantitative data collection will inform qualitative interviews with Veterans on the acceptability and feasibility of the power training program at its completion. Clinical outcomes will be collected (leg power, physical function, and self-report participation) at baseline, 3 months and 6 months and will be compared between the Gerofit power training and Gerofit standard of care groups. Study findings will lead to the development of a power training program that optimally meets Veteran and Gerofit program needs. In addition, study outcomes will guide implementation of a power training program into Gerofit programs aimed at enhancing mobility outcomes in older Veterans.
- Conditions
- Physical Deconditioning, Mobility Decline
- Being tested
- Gerofit Power Training, Gerofit Standard of Care
- Keywords
- power training, mobility, older adult, user-centered design
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gerofit Power TrainingOther
Gerofit Power Training will include a power training exercise prescription which will focus on having participants perform concentric portions of each resistance exercise as fast and as safely as possible with the eccentric component performed in a slow and controlled manner. The target dose of the power training intervention is 40-60% of the participant's 1-repetition maximum for 4-6 repetitions across 3-6 sets for each exercise. Exercises will focus on the major groups of the upper and lower body. All other Gerofit program components (balance, aerobic, and flexibility) will be consistent with the standard of care group. Sessions will be the same duration as the standard of care Gerofit group (60-75 minutes). The power training and standard of care groups will only differ in the form of resistance training performed.
Gerofit Standard of CareOther
Gerofit standard of care is a 60-75 minute multimodal exercise program which includes 20-30 minutes of aerobic training, traditional strength training of the major upper and lower body muscle groups (1-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at moderate load), flexibility training and balance training.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Gerofit Power Training Intervention | Experimental | This group will be randomized to receive Gerofit power training intervention for 6 months. They will receive power training as part of each Gerofit exercise session. Gerofit exercise sessions also include aerobic, flexibility, and balance training. Receives: Other: Gerofit Power Training |
| Gerofit Standard of Care | Active comparator | This group will be randomized to receive standard of care exercise Gerofit exercise prescription for 6 months. Standard of care exercise for the Gerofit program includes combined aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance training. Receives: Other: Gerofit Standard of Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Adherence- proportion of Gerofit exercise sessions attended
Adherence will be measured as a proportion of the number of sessions attended out of the number prescribed per protocol.
Measured: assessed at 3-months (primary endpoint) and 6 months in both intervention and standard of care groups
Secondary outcomes (11)
Retention- proportion of Veterans completing the study
Retention will be tracked as part of feasibility and to inform a future trial. Retention will be measured as the proportion of Veterans who complete all outcome measure timepoints out of the total who complete baseline measures.
Measured: assessed at 3-months (primary) and 6 months
Feasibility of the Gerofit exercise program
Feasibility will be measured through a validated survey: Feasibility of Intervention Measure which consists of 4 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from (1) completely disagree to (5) complete agree. Higher scores indicate greater feasibility of the program. Measure will only be collected in the intervention group.
Measured: assessed at 3-months (primary) and 6 months
Acceptability of the Gerofit exercise program
Acceptability will be measured through a validated survey: Theoretical Framework of Acceptability Measure which consists of 8 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from (1) did not like, high burden to (5) strongly liked, low burden. Higher scores indicate greater acceptability of the program. Measure will only be collected in the intervention group.
Measured: assessed at 3-months (primary) and 6 months
Leg Press Power
Leg power will be evaluated using previously validated methods in older adults at 40% and 70% of the Veterans 1-repetition maximum over 5 repetitions. Scores are continuous, higher scores indicate greater leg power (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
4 stair climb power test (4SCPT)
Power in Watts will be measured using a valid and reliable test which calculates power from time, body weight and stair height when participants climb 4 steps as fast as possible. Scores are continuous, higher scores indicate greater leg power (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Gait speed
This is a functional test of mobility. Participants will be timed while walking at self-selected and fast speeds for 10 meters. Gait speed in meters per second will calculated for self-selected and fast gait speeds. Scores are continuous, higher scores indicate greater greater gait speed and mobility (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI)
Participants will complete this valid and reliable self-report measure of physical function (32 items) and disability (16 items). Raw summary scores are transferred to scaled summary scores on a 0-100 scale with higher scores indicated greater function and greater participation in life tasks.
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
30 second chair rise
This is a functional test of leg strength and power. Participants are asked to stand up and sit down as many times as they can in 30 seconds from a standard height chair. Scores are continuous, higher scores indicate greater leg strength and power (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
arm curl test
This is a functional performance test for upper body strength and is performed on each arm (one arm at a time). It requires the participant to perform as many arm curls (bicep curls) as possible in 30 seconds. Males use an 8lb weight and females use a 5 lb weight. Scores are continuous, and higher scores indicate greater arm strength (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
6 minute walk test
This is a functional test of aerobic capacity. Participants walk as far as they can along a preset track in 6 minutes. Score is the maximal distance walked in 6 minutes, measured in meters. Scores are continuous, and higher scores indicate greater aerobic capacity (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Leg press strength
This is a test of lower body muscle strength. Participants will perform a 1-repetition maximum leg press test where they press the heaviest load they can 1 time through their full range of motion with good form. The test is scored in pounds. Scores are continuous, and higher scores indicate greater leg strength (better outcome).
Measured: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Oct 2025
- Study start1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Sep 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Physical DeconditioningStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by VA Office of Research and DevelopmentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to 1 of 2 groups: Group 1 (Gerofit power training) will receive the intervention for 6 months, and Group 2 (Gerofit standard of care) will receive standard of care for 6 months.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Mattie E Pontiff, PT DPT PhD, Principal investigator, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07210645
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RRD8-001-24W
- Other IDs
- 25-1070
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 20 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Development of a Power Training Program to Improve Mobility in Older Veterans
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07210645
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RRD8-001-24W
- Conditions
- Physical Deconditioning, Mobility Decline
- Keywords
- power training, mobility, older adult, user-centered design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and DevelopmentUS federal agency
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The overall purpose of this study is to develop a power training intervention in partnership with Veterans participating in Gerofit and to evaluate the program's acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary participant outcomes (leg power, physical function and self-report participation).
Detailed description
The overall purpose of this project is to co-design a power training intervention for Veterans engaged in Gerofit and to assess its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary participant outcomes. Gerofit Veterans and exercise providers will participate in co-designing the power training intervention through interviews and feedback sessions. The power training program developed will be tested in the subsequent randomized feasibility pilot. This pilot aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a power training program in older Veterans participating in Gerofit using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Veterans newly enrolled in the Gerofit program will be randomized into power training and standard of care groups and will participate in exercise sessions over 6 months. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed by Veteran adherence to program components and by validated surveys. Quantitative data collection will inform qualitative interviews with Veterans on the acceptability and feasibility of the power training program at its completion. Clinical outcomes will be collected (leg power, physical function, and self-report participation) at baseline, 3 months and 6 months and will be compared between the Gerofit power training and Gerofit standard of care groups. Study findings will lead to the development of a power training program that optimally meets Veteran and Gerofit program needs. In addition, study outcomes will guide implementation of a power training program into Gerofit programs aimed at enhancing mobility outcomes in older Veterans.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to 1 of 2 groups: Group 1 (Gerofit power training) will receive the intervention for 6 months, and Group 2 (Gerofit standard of care) will receive standard of care for 6 months.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Gerofit Power Training Intervention | Experimental | Other: Gerofit Power TrainingThis group will be randomized to receive Gerofit power training intervention for 6 months. They will receive power training as part of each Gerofit exercise session. Gerofit exercise sessions also include aerobic, flexibility, and balance training. |
| Gerofit Standard of Care | Active comparator | Other: Gerofit Standard of CareThis group will be randomized to receive standard of care exercise Gerofit exercise prescription for 6 months. Standard of care exercise for the Gerofit program includes combined aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance training. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Veteran
- new enrollees of the Rocky Mountain Regional Gerofit Program
- ability to function independently in a group setting
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- inability to perform basic activities of daily living
- oxygen dependency
- unstable cardiac disease
- moderate to severe cognitive impairment (Montreal cognitive assessment scores < 24)
- proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Gerofit Power TrainingGerofit Power Training will include a power training exercise prescription which will focus on having participants perform concentric portions of each resistance exercise as fast and as safely as possible with the eccentric component performed in a slow and controlled manner. The target dose of the power training intervention is 40-60% of the participant's 1-repetition maximum for 4-6 repetitions across 3-6 sets for each exercise. Exercises will focus on the major groups of the upper and lower body. All other Gerofit program components (balance, aerobic, and flexibility) will be consistent with the standard of care group. Sessions will be the same duration as the standard of care Gerofit group (60-75 minutes). The power training and standard of care groups will only differ in the form of resistance training performed. | Other | Gerofit Power Training Intervention |
| Gerofit Standard of CareGerofit standard of care is a 60-75 minute multimodal exercise program which includes 20-30 minutes of aerobic training, traditional strength training of the major upper and lower body muscle groups (1-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at moderate load), flexibility training and balance training. | Other | Gerofit Standard of Care |
Primary outcome
Adherence- proportion of Gerofit exercise sessions attended
Time frame: assessed at 3-months (primary endpoint) and 6 months in both intervention and standard of care groups
Adherence will be measured as a proportion of the number of sessions attended out of the number prescribed per protocol.
11 secondary outcomes
Retention- proportion of Veterans completing the study
Time frame: assessed at 3-months (primary) and 6 months
Feasibility of the Gerofit exercise program
Time frame: assessed at 3-months (primary) and 6 months
Acceptability of the Gerofit exercise program
Time frame: assessed at 3-months (primary) and 6 months
Leg Press Power
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
4 stair climb power test (4SCPT)
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Gait speed
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI)
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
30 second chair rise
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
arm curl test
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
6 minute walk test
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Leg press strength
Time frame: baseline, 3-months and 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Mattie E Pontiff, PT DPT PhD principal investigator
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Gerofit Power Training in people with Physical Deconditioning and Mobility Decline, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mattie E Pontiff, PT DPT PhD ((337) 578-2252, MATTIE.PONTIFF@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Adherence- proportion of Gerofit exercise sessions attended (time frame: assessed at 3-months (primary endpoint) and 6 months in both intervention and standard of care groups). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Aug 2026.