Reintegration Clinical Trial
Official title:
Physical Activity and Community Engagement (PACE) Among Returning Veterans
Over 2 million soldiers have deployed during the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) conflicts. While the majority of veterans reintegrate successfully following deployment, a sizable minority return and face difficulties transitioning into civilian life. There is surprisingly little research on disseminable programs to facilitate reintegration, particularly outside of the formal VA healthcare system. The primary objective of this project is to develop and evaluate an integrated community- and exercise-based program that can be "prescribed" to augment existing transition assistance programs.
Founded in 2010, Team Red White and Blue (RWB) is a non-profit organization that aims to
enrich the lives of veterans by enhancing their connection to their community. Initial survey
findings support the mission by showing that involvement in Team RWB (1) increases
connectivity; (2) helps bridge the civilian/military divide; and (3) improves well-being and
life satisfaction.
Numerous trials indicate that engaging in exercise programs can improve mood and reduce
symptoms of depression and anxiety (for review see Penedo and Dahn, 2005). Accordingly,
prescribing a structured exercise program has the potential to facilitate involvement in RWB
and a reduction in reintegration difficulties. Compared to other levels of exercise
intensity, vigorous-intensity exercise has been associated with increases in well-being (Cox,
Thomas, Hinton, Donahue, 2006), reductions in anxiety and depression (Balchin, Linde,
Blackhurst, Rauch, & Schönbächler, 2016; Cox, Thomas, Hinton, & Donahue, 2004; Katula,
Blissmer, & McAuley, 1999) and improvements in quality of life (Ostman, Jewiss, & Smart,
2016). According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), high intensity exercise
methods are the leading trend in the fitness industry (Thompson, 2013). Importantly, high
intensity exercise programs have gained increasing popularity particularly within military
units (Haddock, Poston, Heinrich, Jahnke, & Jitnarin, 2016).
This study aims to provide a pilot test of (1) the acceptability and effectiveness of RWB for
veterans transitioning out of the military and (2) the effectiveness of a vigorous-intensity
aerobic exercise prescription for enhancing the efficacy of RWB. To this end, the study will
be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that involves 75 veterans discharged from the US Army
at Fort Hood who will be assigned to: 1) 8-weeks of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise in
addition to participation in a community-based program (Team RWB) or (2) 8-weeks of
participation in Team RWB alone or (3) 8-weeks on a waitlist.
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| Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed |
NCT02627612 -
Evaluation of ProVetus/Sponsorship Initiative
|
N/A | |
| Completed |
NCT01020981 -
National Guard Outreach and Linkage to Treatment
|
N/A |