Gamification and Physical Activity in PD
Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development
About this study
Despite overwhelming evidence that exercise can improve motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), less than 25% of Veterans with PD meet recommended activity goals. Interventions to increase PA that are scalable and can be deployed in the community represent a major opportunity. The investigators' preliminary work has demonstrated that gamification, a method commonly used for health promotion, can lead to increases in physical activity in PD. In this study, the investigators will test the effectiveness of gamification in a randomized trial to increase activity. Importantly, the investigators will also examine the effect of step count and exercise intensity on clinical outcomes and explore factors important to widespread implementation of the program VA.
Background/Significance: Exercise and physical activity (PA) improve PD symptoms and have been hypothesized to modify disease onset and progression. Further, exercise has been shown to improve debilitating non-motor symptoms (NMS, including depression, sleep, cognition) that are unresponsive or even worsened by dopaminergic treatments used to improve motor symptoms. Most of this evidence comes from resource-intensive, short-term observed trials of exercise, while the investigators' work and that of others has demonstrated low free-living activity levels in PD that worsen with disease duration. In fact, less than 25% of Veterans meet recommended activity goals. Interventions to increase PA that are scalable and can be deployed in the community represent a major opportunity and unmet need in…
Where this study is enrolling
- I'm interested
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Who can participate
Inclusion criteria
- ✓Veterans
- ✓Have a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) based on diagnosis codes and chart review
- ✓Are on a stable regimen of anti-parkinsonian medication
Exclusion criteria
- ✕Diagnosis of an atypical parkinsonian syndrome or concomitant administration of a drug that could cause parkinsonian syndromes
- ✕Cardiovascular or other medical comorbidities that preclude participation in an intervention to increase physical activity
- ✕Lack of access to a smartphone or other device (tablet or networked computer) that can be used to interface with the Fitbit app and Way to Health platform
- ✕Fallen more than twice within the past year (assessed via phone screening)
- ✕Clinical diagnosis of dementia
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Completing a questionnaire on Clinably does not enroll you in a clinical trial or confirm your eligibility. Only the research team can determine whether you qualify to participate. These results are based on the information you provide and are intended to help you start a conversation with the research team.
Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.