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Parkinson DiseaseNCT06915987

Parkinson Disease and Exercise Snacks

A study testing Exercise Intervention in people with Parkinson Disease, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) benefit from exercise, but many face barriers like motor disability, fatigue, and lack of time, leading to reduced activity. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of "exercise snacks," short bursts of vigorous activity that can be done anywhere without equipment or a… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 19 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Parkinson Disease
What is being tested?
Exercise Intervention
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
15 May 2025to 30 Apr 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 19 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adults (19 years of age or older) with Clinically Established PD (Postuma et al., 2015).
  • Medically cleared to exercise by their physician.
  • A score of ≤3 on the modified Hoehn \& Yahr scale (i.e. physically independent, may have unilateral or bilateral clinical signs, including mild impairment of postural reflexes).
  • Have access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet connection for intervention delivery and tracking.

Who cannot join

  • Comorbid condition with physical disability preventing participation in exercise (i.e., that cannot be accommodated with modifications to the prescribed exercise).
  • A score of >=4 on the modified Hoehn \& Yahr scale (meaning they may be able to stand or walk but are not physically independent; this typically includes a need for gait aids such as a cane or walker)
  • No access to reliable internet connection.
  • Are currently participating in another clinical trial that would interfere with the study procedures described.
  • Have a scheduled event (e.g. medical or surgical procedure, prolonged travel in the next 3-4 months) that would interrupt participation in the study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Daryl J Wile, MD contact

1-250-575-8576

dwile@mail.ubc.ca

Jill M Williamson, PhD contact

1-250-503-8951

jill.williamson@ubc.ca

Canada1 site
  • University of British Columbia Okanagan

    Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Exercise Snacks for People With Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) benefit from exercise, but many face barriers like motor disability, fatigue, and lack of time, leading to reduced activity. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of "exercise snacks," short bursts of vigorous activity that can be done anywhere without equipment or a significant time commitment. These exercise snacks help integrate activity into daily life, making it more accessible for people with PD. The secondary goal is to evaluate the feasibility of this approach through this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to inform a larger, future RCT.

Read the detailed description

Exercise has increasingly become a recognized and valuable component of treatment for individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Numerous studies indicate that exercise can improve motor symptoms, enhance mobility, and contribute to overall well-being. However, despite the well-documented benefits, a significant proportion of people with PD remain inactive. Their physical activity levels often decline over time due to a range of disease-related and practical barriers.

Disease-specific challenges may include motor impairments, fatigue, and apathy. Practical obstacles such as limited time, lack of access to appropriate facilities or programs, adverse weather conditions, and financial constraints also hinder participation. These barriers are compounded in rural and remote communities where exercise resources are scarce. Consequently, there is a pressing need for time-efficient, accessible exercise options adaptable to different stages of PD and feasible for those with varying levels of motor impairment.

Our proposal introduces an innovative intervention called "exercise snacks," consisting of brief, vigorous activity bursts that can be performed anywhere without specialized equipment or a significant time commitment. This approach integrates exercise into daily routines, making it a practical and accessible option for people with PD. Short bouts of exercise are more likely to be maintained and are perceived as more manageable than traditional long-duration workouts. Moreover, this intervention aligns with the World Health Organization Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior and the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults, which encourage breaking up sedentary behavior with short activity breaks.

Exercise interventions must be inclusive to benefit a broader range of people with PD. Many existing studies exclude participants with mild cognitive impairment or those who require assistance with walking or daily activities. Our intervention is specifically designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities. With remote delivery through the Seven Movements platform, the intervention can reach participants in rural or remote areas, where access to traditional exercise programs is limited. This is particularly beneficial in the Interior of British Columbia, where a higher proportion of rural residents face significant healthcare disparities.

Evidence from other populations suggests that exercise snacks can significantly improve cardiovascular fitness and overall health outcomes. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and similar time-efficient exercise programs have demonstrated comparable benefits to longer-duration aerobic training. We theorize that exercise snacks will offer similar advantages for people with PD by enhancing walking performance, reducing fear of falling, and improving quality of life.

This is an unblinded, block-randomized parallel-group clinical trial involving 40 male and female adults with clinically established PD. Participants will be recruited from Kelowna, British Columbia, through the Humphrey's Family Movement Disorder Clinic and local PD patient support groups. The trial aims to be inclusive, ensuring that the interventions are safe and accessible for a diverse participant population.

Participants with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson Disease will be randomized to Exercise Snack or Active Movement breaks. Specific hypotheses are: 1) participants in the Exercise Snacks and Active Movement Break groups will be highly adherent to the prescribed activity and 2) people with PD randomized to the Exercise Snacks group will experience improvements in walking performance, reduced fear of falling, and enhanced quality of life compared to the Active Movement Breaks group.

Estimates of the effect of either randomized group assignment includes 1) functional mobility measures (Timed Up and Go, walking speed, balance scales) and 2) psychosocial measures (psychological well-being, fear of falling, quality of life). These will be assessed pre- and post- intervention.

Overall objectives to the study include:

  1. to conduct a 12-week pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing Exercise Snacks to a placebo exercise intervention (Active Movement Breaks) in people with PD
  2. measure changes in patient-reported activity levels, fear of falling, quality of life, and clinical measures of walking performance and balance
  3. evaluate feasibility outcomes to guide scalability for a fully powered RCT
  4. identify barriers and facilitators for exercise snacks in PD patient population using participant-orientated, qualitative study review
  5. determine eligibility, recruitment, adherence, and dropout rates for a study of this design

This comprehensive Snack PD pilot design will provide robust evidence on the feasibility and efficacy of exercise snacks for people with PD, informing future large-scale trials and broader implementation strategies.

Being tested
Exercise Intervention
Keywords
Parkinson Disease, Exercise Snacks, Exercise Intervention
Medical subject headings
Parkinson Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Exercise InterventionBehavioural

    Also called Movement Breaks

    Exercise snack group will be higher intensity movements designed to elevate heart rate while active movement break will have low intensity / stretching exercises assigned to them.

Study groups in NCT06915987
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Exercise SnackActive comparatorParticipants to receive higher intensity exercise snack exercises
Receives: Behavioral: Exercise Intervention
Active Movement BreaksPlacebo comparatorWhile not a true placebo (i.e., no intervention at all) participants in this arm will receive low intensity / stretching based exercises throughout the study period.
Receives: Behavioral: Exercise Intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility of Intervention: completion rate

    Feasibility of the study intervention by using quantitative data from activities logged in the Seven Movements platform is a primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate this outcome measure of feasibility by looking at multiple variables indicating completion of target exercise. One of the variables used to assess this primary outcome measure of feasibility is activities completion rate of at least 2 sessions five days per week, or 10 per week long block. Threshold values are High (>70%), moderate (50-69%), or low (<50%) adherence. This data will be extracted from the 7 Movements App.

    Measured: 10 weeks

  2. Feasibility of Intervention: rate of perceived exertion

    Feasibility of the study intervention by using quantitative data from activities logged in the Seven Movements platform is a primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate this outcome measure of feasibility by looking at multiple variables indicating completion of target exercise. One of the variables used to assess this primary outcome measure of feasibility is the intensity of the exercise expecting a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of >4/10 on the Borg CR-10 scale for Exercise Snacks. This data will be extracted from the 7 Movements App.

    Measured: 10 weeks

  3. Feasibility of Intervention: exercise enjoyment scale

    Feasibility of the study intervention by using quantitative data from activities logged in the Seven Movements platform is a primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate this outcome measure of feasibility by looking at multiple variables indicating completion of target exercise. One of the variables used to assess this primary outcome measure of feasibility a summary of the Exercise Enjoyment Scale ratings of exercises to compare the study groups. This quantitative data will be extracted from the 7 Movements App.

    Measured: 10 weeks

  4. Adherence to the Intervention: completion rate

    Adherence of the study intervention will be evaluated using quantitative data from activities logged in the Seven Movements platform is a primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate this outcome measure of adherence by looking at multiple variables indicating completion of target exercise. One of the variables used to assess this primary outcome measure of adherence is activities completion rate of at least 2 sessions five days per week, or 10 per week long block. Threshold values are High (>70%), moderate (50-69%), or low (<50%) adherence. This data will be extracted from the 7 Movements App.

    Measured: 10 weeks

  5. Adherence to the Intervention: rate of perceived exertion

    Adherence of the study intervention by using quantitative data from activities logged in the Seven Movements platform is a primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate this outcome measure by looking at multiple variables indicating completion of target exercise. One of the variables used to assess this outcome measure of adherence is the intensity of the exercise expecting a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of >4/10 on the Borg CR-10 scale for Exercise Snacks. This data will be extracted from the 7 Movements App.

    Measured: 10 weeks

  6. Adherence to the Intervention: exercise enjoyment scale

    Adherence of the study intervention by using quantitative data from activities logged in the Seven Movements platform is a primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate this outcome measure of by looking at multiple variables indicating completion of target exercise. One of the variables used to assess this primary outcome measure of adherence is a summary of the Exercise Enjoyment Scale ratings of exercises to compare the study groups. This data will be extracted from the 7 Movements App.

    Measured: 10 weeks

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Qualitative Study Review; perceived acceptability of the intervention using a descriptive, open-ended questionnaire.

    A qualitative study review to be done in partnership with participants upon completion. This outcome measure will be evaluated using a Post Intervention Descriptive Questionnaire to be completed by participants. Open-ended questions in this questionnaire will be cover 4 major themes. One of these themes is participants perceived acceptability of the intervention.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  2. Qualitative Study Review; the identification of barriers or facilitators to the study using a descriptive, open-ended questionnaire.

    A qualitative study review to be done in partnership with participants upon completion. This outcome measure will be evaluated using a Post Intervention Descriptive Questionnaire to be completed by participants. Open-ended questions in this questionnaire will be cover 4 major themes. One of these themes is participants identification of barriers and facilitators to study activity.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  3. Qualitative Study Review; participant assessment of the 7 Movements App and technology using a descriptive, open-ended questionnaire.

    A qualitative study review to be done in partnership with participants upon completion. This outcome measure will be evaluated using a Post Intervention Descriptive Questionnaire to be completed by participants. Open-ended questions in this questionnaire will be cover 4 major themes. One of these themes is participants opinions of the 7 Movements platform and technology.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  4. Qualitative Study Review; study safety concerns as expressed by participants using a descriptive, open-ended questionnaire.

    A qualitative study review to be done in partnership with participants upon completion. This outcome measure will be evaluated using a Post Intervention Descriptive Questionnaire to be completed by participants. Open-ended questions in this questionnaire will be cover 4 major themes. One of these themes is adverse events or safety concerns, as expressed by participants.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  5. Actigraphy: heart rate measures (bpm).

    Actigraphy data (segmented as sedentary time or mild/moderate/vigorous activity) from five day windows pre-study and post-study. Data collected will include heart rate data collected during two 5 day windows within the study period to assess the effect of Exercise Snack and active movement break interventions on heart rate. The Actigraph LEAP measures heart rate (bpm) using a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, a common technology for non-invasive heart rate monitoring.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Apr 2025
  2. Study start15 May 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06915987
Sponsor's protocol ID
H24-02753
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
14 Mar 2025
Last updated
15 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Data will be shared with our Collaborators: Dr. Jonathan Little, Health and Exercise Sciences, UBCO, primary research focus is on how the application of different nutrition and exercise strategies impact glucose control, cardiometabolic health, and inflammation. Dr. Little specializes in the use of exercise snacks for health interventions. Dr. Mary Jung - Health and Exercise Science, UBCO, primary research focus is in health promotion and health behavior changes.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Exercise Intervention in people with Parkinson Disease, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Daryl J Wile, MD (1-250-575-8576, dwile@mail.ubc.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility of Intervention: completion rate (time frame: 10 weeks). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Apr 2025.

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