Tele-Exercise for MERP (NCT07018466) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Tele-Exercise for MERP
United States100 participantsStarted 2026-07-01
Plain-language 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.
Who can participate
Age range
40 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
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 supplemental oxygen), or lobectomy or greater resection
* Myocardial infarction (within 3 months), or exertional or unstable angina
* Uncontrolled systemic hypertension, defined as resting systolic blood pressure \> 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 110 at time of most recent evaluation at time of recruitment
* Active systemic treatment for cancer
* Acute care hospitalization within the last 90 days
* End-stage liver or renal disease
* Any other medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude safe participation in tele-exercise, according to the judgment of the investigators
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in VO2peak
Timeframe: Baseline and 12 weeks intervention or control
2
Change in 6-minute walk test
Timeframe: Baseline and 12-weeks intervention or control