About this trial
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.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
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
Disqualifiers
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
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Tele-exercise
- Standard of Care