Heat Therapy, Functional Capacity, & Vascular Health in Older Adults

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

To test the hypothesis that home-based leg heat therapy improves functional capacity, vascular function, and exercise hyperemia in older adults.

Clinical Trial Description

Chronic whole-body heating (i.e., heat therapy) has gained attention as a novel strategy to improve clinical and physiological outcomes in a number of populations. However, whole-body heat therapy is quite uncomfortable and may require trained personnel to ensure participant safety, especially for those more at risk for heat-related illness. Moreover, the applicability and acceptability of whole-body heat therapy are questionable as equipment cost is substantial and adherence will be low if individuals are required to travel if they cannot afford in-home therapy. Home-based leg heat therapy offers an opportunity to leverage the demonstrated benefits of whole-body heat therapy while managing safety and convenience. The hypothesis will be addressed in the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: Determine the extent to which home-based leg heat therapy improves functional capacity in older adults. Functional capacity will be assessed before and after heat therapy or sham intervention via the 6-min walk test and the Short Physical Performance Battery. Aim 2: Determine if home-based leg heat therapy improves vascular function and exercise hyperemia in the older adults of Aim 1. Using state-of-the-art techniques of skeletal muscle microdialysis and high-resolution duplex ultrasound, the investigators will pharmacodissect mechanisms of vascular function and exercise hyperemia before and after each intervention. The outcomes of Aim 2, while providing insight into the mechanisms whereby heat therapy improves functional capacity, should be considered independent of the outcomes of Aim 1 given that vascular health is a key independent, yet modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT05706181
Study type	Interventional
Source	University of North Texas Health Science Center
Contact	Steven A Romero, PhD
Phone	8177355159
Email	steven.romero@unthsc.edu
Status	Recruiting
Phase	Phase 1/Phase 2
Start date	November 3, 2022
Completion date	July 30, 2026

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Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.

Heat Therapy, Functional Capacity, and Vascular Health in Older Adults

Clinical Trial Summary

Clinical Trial Description

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms