About XFIT

What is XFIT?

XFIT stands for Exercise-based Frailty Intervention in Lung Transplantation. It’s a home-based program designed to help lung transplant candidates build strength, improve physical fitness, and feel more prepared for surgery. 

This program focuses on reducing physical frailty, which is when the body’s strength and energy are lower than usual. By participating in XFIT, you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your muscles, increase your stamina, and feel more confident about getting through both surgery and postoperative recovery successfully. Participating in XFIT may also reduce the risks of complications occurring during and after surgery. 

Why is XFIT important?

When your body is stronger and healthier before surgery, it helps make the procedure go more smoothly and increases how quickly you recover faster afterward. XFIT is specially designed to make sure your body and mind are in the best shape possible for lung transplant surgery.

Who can join the XFIT trial?

This program is for adults who are preparing for lung transplant surgery and want to take steps to improve their physical health. Patients being evaluated for lung transplant at UC San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University Medical Center are eligible to participate.

You’ll need to meet some basic requirements, and the research team will go over these with you to see if XFIT is right for you.

XFIT is a Randomized Controlled Trial, meaning one-half of people will undergo the 8-week training program described below and one-half of people will get specialized education materials about frailty and exercise but will not undergo the 8-week training program. The program you are assigned is determined at random, like the flip of a coin, and you have an equal chance of being in either. No matter which group you're in, we will follow up with you to see how you're doing, using many of the same tests you completed prior to starting the program. This study is designed with your comfort and safety in mind, and we're here to guide you every step of the way.

What will I do in the XFIT program?

XFIT is an 8-week home-based exercise and behavior motivation program that can be done in the comfort of your home. The goal is to provide you with a tailored exercise program that’s just right for you, along with coaching and support to help you get stronger each week.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Weekly Meetings: You’ll have 30–45-minute sessions with an exercise and behavior coach through video calls. They’ll guide you through exercises, help you overcome challenges, and keep you motivated.
• Aerobic Exercise: You’ll focus on activities like walking or cycling to improve your stamina. The goal is to do 30 minutes of moderate activity, 3–5 days a week, but the program will be tailored to fit your abilities and needs.
• Strength Exercises: You’ll do simple exercises like sit-to-stand squats, wall push-ups, and leg lifts to strengthen your muscles and improve balance.
• Healthy Eating Tips: You’ll get advice on improving your diet to help maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, and fuel your progress.
• Coping with Stress: You’ll learn techniques to help manage stress, think more flexibly, and problem solve common challenges that come up before and after transplant. 

You’ll also wear a Fitbit to track your activity and progress. The Fitbit gives you feedback and helps keep you on track toward your goals.

What is the schedule like?

To participate in XFIT, you’ll need to attend three key visits:

Baseline Visit (Before Starting XFIT)

At the start of the program, you’ll visit one of our study centers (UC San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania, or Columbia University Medical Center) for the following assessments:

• Frailty Assessment: We’ll check your physical strength, balance, and mobility using simple tests like walking speed, chair stands, and grip strength measurements.
• Body Composition Analysis: Using a safe and painless device called the InBody, we’ll measure how much muscle and fat you have.
• Blood Tests: We’ll take a small sample of blood to measure health markers. If you’re already having blood drawn for medical care, we’ll try to coordinate with that to avoid extra needle sticks.
• Activity Monitoring Setup: You’ll receive a Fitbit and an Actigraph device to track your activity at home

• Survey Completion: You’ll answer questions about your health, physical activity, and how you feel overall.

  

Return Visit (After 8 Weeks)

Once you finish the 8-week XFIT program, you’ll return to the study center for follow-up assessments:

• Frailty Assessment: We’ll repeat the same physical tests to see how much stronger and more mobile you’ve become.
• Body Composition Analysis: We’ll measure your muscle mass and body fat again to check for changes.
• Blood Tests: We’ll take another small sample to see if your health markers have improved.
• Activity Monitoring: You’ll wear the Actigraph again for 7 days at home prior to this visit to measure your activity levels at the end of the program.
• Survey Completion: You’ll answer follow-up questions about your experience with XFIT and any changes in your health or activity levels.

12-Week Telehealth Visit

After 12 weeks, we’ll check in with you using a telehealth video call. This visit will include:

• Frailty Assessment: You’ll perform simple physical tests, like balance and chair stands, with a caregiver helping to hold your smartphone or tablet.
• Activity Monitoring Review: We’ll review your Fitbit data to see how active you’ve been since the program ended.
• Survey Completion: You’ll answer questions about how you’ve maintained the program and how you feel overall.

What makes XFIT special?

This program is designed specifically for lung transplant candidates, the exercise program will be tailored for your individual background, and many parts of the program are flexibly designed to meet  your unique needs. You’ll also get one-on-one support from experts who have lots of experience working with lung transplant patients and helping them to successfully manage their transplant journey.

How can XFIT help me?

By improving your physical strength and fitness, XFIT can help you:

• Be more prepared for surgery.
• Recover better and faster after your transplant.
• Feel stronger and healthier overall.

Want to learn more?

If you’re interested in the XFIT program, talk to your doctor or contact our research team. We’re here to answer your questions and help you decide if XFIT is right for you!

Together, let’s build strength for a smoother surgery and a healthier recovery.