Chronic PainEXSNAKSNCT07335068
Effects of Exercise Snacking on Physical Fitness, Cognition, and Pain in Institutionalized Older Adults
A study testing Exercise Snacks and Conventional Exercise in people with Chronic Pain and Cognition Disorders in Old Age, run by Ivan Patrício at 1 site in Portugal.
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the effects of two different exercise approaches on health and well-being in older adults living in residential care facilities. One approach, called "exercise snacking," consists of short and frequent bouts of physical activity spread throughout the day, while the other involves longer… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain, Cognition Disorders in Old Age, Physical Fitness in Older Adults
- What is being tested?
- Exercise Snacks and Conventional Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 75 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePortugal
- Study dates
- 5 Jan 2026to Aug 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 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 65 years
- Residence in Associação Casapiana de Solidariedade
Who cannot join
- Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE 0-10)
- Unstable medical conditions (e.g., decompensated heart failure)
- Refusal of consent
- Total inability to walk/move.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Exercise Snacking on Physical Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Chronic Pain in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to compare the effects of two different exercise approaches on health and well-being in older adults living in residential care facilities. One approach, called "exercise snacking," consists of short and frequent bouts of physical activity spread throughout the day, while the other involves longer, structured exercise sessions performed a few times per week.
Approximately 75 adults aged 65 years and older will be randomly assigned to one of the two exercise programs and will participate for 12 weeks. The study will examine whether exercise snacking is as effective as conventional exercise in improving physical fitness, cognitive function, chronic pain intensity, quality of life, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The researchers hypothesize that short, intermittent exercise sessions may provide similar or greater health benefits compared to traditional exercise programs and may represent a practical and accessible strategy to promote physical activity in older adults living in institutional settings.
- Being tested
- Exercise Snacks, Conventional Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exercise SnacksBehavioural
Exercise snacks, defined as short bouts of gentle intermittent exercise performed twice a day
Conventional ExerciseBehavioural
Conventional exercise consists of longer continuous practice of structured physical activity.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Snacks | Experimental | The Exercise Snacks intervention comprises two daily sessions of approximately ten minutes each, five days per week (total ≈ 100 minutes/week). Each ten-minute session consists largely of alternating one-minute bouts of activity and one-minute rest. The exercises followed a structured three-month progression. Intensity targeted at a 4 on Borg CR10 Scale "somewhat hard" with progression rules (increase repetitions, range of motion and exercise difficulty). Receives: Behavioral: Exercise Snacks |
| Conventional Exercise | Active comparator | Conventional Exercise comprises two supervised 50 minutes sessions per week (total ≈ 100 minutes/week). Organized in one-minute exercise/one-minute rest intervals equal in content to the snacks but performed in longer continuous practice. The exercises followed a structured three-month progression. Intensity targeted at a 4 on Borg CR10 Scale "somewhat hard" with progression rules (increase repetitions, range of motion and exercise difficulty). Receives: Behavioral: Conventional Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Physical Fitness Assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a test of lower extremity functioning that combines scores from usual gait speed, standing balance, and chair stand tests. Scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating better physical functioning.
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
Secondary outcomes (4)
Anxiety and depression assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) subscale scores
HADS consists of two subscales, one measuring anxiety, with seven items, and one measuring depression, with seven items, which are scored separately. Each item was answered by the participant on a 4-point (0-3) response category so the possible scores ranged from 0 to 21 for anxiety and 0 to 21 for depression. The HADS manual indicates that a score between 0 and 7 is ''normal'', between 8 and 10 ''mild'', between 11 and 14 ''moderate'' and between 15 and 21 ''severe''.
Measured: From baseline to 3 months
Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ)
Pain will be assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Participants will report as yes/no the presence of chronic pain (pain that persists or recurs more than three months) in nine body regions (neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands, upper back, lower back, hips/thighs, knees, and ankles/feet). Symptom intensity in the last 7 days will be rated on a numeric scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Measured: From baseline to 3 months
The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12)
The SF-12 includes 12 items covering eight health domains (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health). Responses will be scored using standard algorithms to generate two summary measures: the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS). Scores will range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. Outcomes will be reported as mean PCS and MCS scores.
Measured: From baseline to 3 months
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Cognitive function will be assessed using the MMSE, a standardized interviewer-administered screening tool. The MMSE will evaluate orientation, attention, memory, language, and visuospatial abilities. Total scores will range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function. Cognitive impairment will be defined according to education-adjusted cut-off scores, as follows: illiterate participants ≤15 points; participants with 1 to 11 years of education ≤22 points; and participants with more than 11 years of education ≤27 points.
Measured: From baseline to 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Jan 2026
- Study start5 Jan 2026
- Primary completion10 Apr 2026
- Study completionAug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 75 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ivan Patrício
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Associação Casapiana de Solidariedade, CIDEFES - Universidade Lusofona
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ivan Patrício, Lusofona University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07335068
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- D1025B
- Acronym
- EXSNAKS
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Exercise Snacking on Physical Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Chronic Pain in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07335068
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EXSNAKS / D1025B
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 75 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ivan PatrícioUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Associação Casapiana de Solidariedade, CIDEFES - Universidade Lusofona
- Study start
- 5 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare the effects of two different exercise approaches on health and well-being in older adults living in residential care facilities. One approach, called "exercise snacking," consists of short and frequent bouts of physical activity spread throughout the day, while the other involves longer, structured exercise sessions performed a few times per week.
Approximately 75 adults aged 65 years and older will be randomly assigned to one of the two exercise programs and will participate for 12 weeks. The study will examine whether exercise snacking is as effective as conventional exercise in improving physical fitness, cognitive function, chronic pain intensity, quality of life, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The researchers hypothesize that short, intermittent exercise sessions may provide similar or greater health benefits compared to traditional exercise programs and may represent a practical and accessible strategy to promote physical activity in older adults living in institutional settings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Snacks | Experimental | Behavioral: Exercise SnacksThe Exercise Snacks intervention comprises two daily sessions of approximately ten minutes each, five days per week (total ≈ 100 minutes/week). Each ten-minute session consists largely of alternating one-minute bouts of activity and one-minute rest. The exercises followed a structured three-month progression. Intensity targeted at a 4 on Borg CR10 Scale "somewhat hard" with progression rules (increase repetitions, range of motion and exercise difficulty). |
| Conventional Exercise | Active comparator | Behavioral: Conventional ExerciseConventional Exercise comprises two supervised 50 minutes sessions per week (total ≈ 100 minutes/week). Organized in one-minute exercise/one-minute rest intervals equal in content to the snacks but performed in longer continuous practice. The exercises followed a structured three-month progression. Intensity targeted at a 4 on Borg CR10 Scale "somewhat hard" with progression rules (increase repetitions, range of motion and exercise difficulty). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Age ≥ 65 years
- Residence in Associação Casapiana de Solidariedade
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE 0-10)
- Unstable medical conditions (e.g., decompensated heart failure)
- Refusal of consent
- Total inability to walk/move.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise SnacksExercise snacks, defined as short bouts of gentle intermittent exercise performed twice a day | Behavioural | Exercise Snacks |
| Conventional ExerciseConventional exercise consists of longer continuous practice of structured physical activity. | Behavioural | Conventional Exercise |
Primary outcome
Physical Fitness Assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a test of lower extremity functioning that combines scores from usual gait speed, standing balance, and chair stand tests. Scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating better physical functioning.
4 secondary outcomes
Anxiety and depression assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) subscale scores
Time frame: From baseline to 3 months
Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ)
Time frame: From baseline to 3 months
The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12)
Time frame: From baseline to 3 months
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Time frame: From baseline to 3 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Aug 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise Snacks and Conventional Exercise in people with Chronic Pain and Cognition Disorders in Old Age, run by Ivan Patrício at 1 site in Portugal.
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 2 inclusion and 4 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Aug 2026. 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 Portugal. 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. 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?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Physical Fitness Assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (time frame: Baseline and 3 months). 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 26 Aug 2026.