About XFIT

What is the XFIT Study?

XFIT is designed to help you stay stronger and healthier while waiting for a lung transplant.

This 8-week, at-home telehealth program combines guided exercise and wellness training to address frailty and boost your overall fitness. We’re studying how safe, easy, and enjoyable the program is—and whether it can improve your strength, endurance, and well-being.

The study sites include:

• UCSF Parnassus Campus under the lead Principal Investigator Dr. Jonathan Singer.
• UPenn under the lead Principal Investigator Dr. Michaela Anderson
• CUMC under the lead Principal Investigator Dr. Luke Benvenuto

Who is Eligible?

To join this study:

• You must be 18-75 years old
• Speak English or Spanish
• Require oxygen during walk tests
• Show signs of reduced physical function based on a short performance test

You may not be able to join if you:

• Live alone
• Have a BMI of under 18
• Are already participating in a physical rehabilitation program

What is Asked of Participants?

The screening activities include:

• A brief physical function test
• A handgrip test
• A blood draw
• A body composition scan
• A short walking test
• A few surveys about your daily activity and quality of life.

You’ll also be asked to wear small activity trackers—like a Fitbit or a wristwatch-like device—for a short period so we can learn more about your physical activity.

As part of this study, you’ll be asked to complete a few simple physical assessments to help us
understand your strength, balance, and overall health. These include:

• Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB): This test checks your balance, walking speed, and
  lower body strength. You’ll be asked to try standing in a few different positions, walk a short
  distance at your normal pace, and stand up from a chair five times in a row. This can be done in
  person or virtually with help from a family member or friend.
• Fried Frailty Assessment: We’ll use a handgrip test and a few questions to learn more about
  your energy levels, activity, and physical resilience—things that help us understand how frail
  someone may be.
• Body Composition Test: Using a safe and painless device called the InBody, we’ll measure how
  much muscle and fat you have. This takes just a couple of minutes and doesn't involve any
  radiation.
• Blood Draw: We’ll collect a small sample of blood (about 2 tablespoons) at the start of the study
  and again at 8 weeks. If you’re already having blood drawn for medical care, we’ll try to
  coordinate with that to avoid extra needle sticks.

If you qualify, you’ll be randomly placed into one of two groups:

• 8-week exercise program called XFIT
• Enhanced standard care

No matter which group you're in, we’ll follow up with you to see how you're doing, using many of the same tests you completed at the beginning.

This study is designed with your comfort and safety in mind, and we're here to guide you every step of the way.

Your participation could help improve care for future transplant patients—starting with you.

Schedule of Assessments