Heat and Exercise in Aging as Therapy (HEAT)

Launched by TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY · Aug 28, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The HEAT trial is a clinical study aimed at understanding how local heat therapy, using heat pads on the legs, can help improve health in older adults with prediabetes. The researchers want to see if this heat therapy can boost muscle health, physical function, and blood sugar management in a way that is similar to a type of exercise called High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). They will explore whether heat therapy can make muscles stronger and better at using sugar for energy, and if it can help the body respond even better to exercise.

To participate in the trial, individuals must be at least 60 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and have a sedentary lifestyle (not exercising much). They should also meet certain health criteria for prediabetes and not be using specific medications that could affect the study results. Participants can expect to engage in sessions that involve heat therapy and exercise, with the goal of improving their overall health. It’s important to note that this trial is not yet recruiting participants, so there will be more information available soon for those interested in joining.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age ≥ 60 years
• • Sedentary (structured exercise \<30 minutes, 3x/week)
• • Body weight is at least 110 lbs
• • Meet criteria for prediabetes (fasting blood glucose 100-125 mg/dl, hemoglobin A1c 5.7-6.4%)
• • Consume \<8 (women) or \<15 (men) alcohol-containing beverages per week
• • Do not use nicotine or cannabis
• • Not taking any medications that could interfere with responses to the interventions (e.g., corticosteroids, opiates, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers, sulfonylureas, insulin, metformin, anticoagulants, barbiturates, insulin sensitizers, fibrates, immunosuppressants). If you don't know, that's okay. We'll ask what medications you are on and check whether they fall into one of these categories.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of peripheral neuropathies
• • Currently taking prescription blood thinners
• • Medical complications that could would contraindicate participation in the high intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention including: orthopedic complications that would limit your ability to perform cycling exercise, significant cardiovascular impairments (e.g., history of arrhythmias, severe uncontrolled hypertension, etc.), diagnosed metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes), renal disease, sickle cell anemia, or cancer in remission for \<6 months.
• • Known history of slow wound healing
• • Lidocaine allergy
• • Latex allergy
• • Currently pregnant
• • \>1.5" subcutaneous fat over the thigh muscle
• • Symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or renal diseases including discomfort, pressure, or pain in your chest, neck, jaw, arms, calves, or other areas potentially related to ischemia; shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion; dizziness or fainting (syncope); difficulty breathing while lying flat (orthopnea) or sudden nighttime breathing difficulties (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea); palpitations or rapid heartbeat (tachycardia); pain or cramping in your legs during physical activity (intermittent claudication); a known heart murmur; swelling in your ankles (edema); unusual fatigue or shortness of breath during routine activities or at rest.