Physical Rehabilitation Intervention With Protein Supplementation for People With Problematic Substance Use and Homelessness

Background: People who are homeless are more likely to experience poor mental health and addiction as well as suffering from non-communicable diseases. There is evidence of frailty and accelerated physical ageing among people experiencing homelessness. Appropriate physical rehabilitation and nutritional supplementation strategies can stabilize or reverse frailty and general physical decline, but it is not known how this type of intervention would work in practice in this population. Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a physical rehabilitation drop in intervention with protein supplementation to target physical functioning and frailty in people with problematic substance use who are experiencing homelessness. Methods: The intervention will consist of a 12-week low threshold physical rehabilitation program with protein supplementation. Participants will be service users of the Advance Ballyfermot Project, a day services center for people who are homeless and have active addiction issues. Primary outcomes will be feasibility including numbers recruited, retention of participants and number of repeat visits. Any adverse events will be recorded. Secondary outcomes will be strength and muscular mass, physical performance and lower extremity physical function, pain, frailty and nutritional status.