Step Up to PD: A Community-based Walking Program for People With Parkinson's Disease

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Parkinson Disease; Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic

• Registration Number: NCT06859528
• Lead Sponsor: St. Louis University

Brief Summary

This study will investigate the feasibility of a 6-month community walking program for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their care partners in greater Saint Louis, Missouri region. The walking program will consist of weekly, organized walking groups at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Participants in the program will use Nordic walking poles during the walks. The walking group(s) will meet once per week and will be supervised by walking group leaders from Saint Louis University. Participants will be given a smart watch to wear that will help step counts will be tracked in real-time. The program is designed to get people with Parkinson's disease out of their homes, cultivate a culture of connection with others with Parkinson's disease, and to be collectively accountable for a common goal toward increasing their physical and social engagement in their communities.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-27
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-05
• Study Start: 2025-04-01
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-12
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-14
• Primary Completion: 2027-03-31
• Study Completion: 2027-09-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• 30-85 years old
• Neurologist-diagnosed Parkinson's disease
• Able to walk independently with or without a walking aid (e.g., cane, walker)
• Willing to participate in study for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

• Health diagnosis that would limit exercise participation (e.g., heart problems, uncontrolled blood pressure, exercise-induced asthma).
• Additional neurologic disease or injury beyond Parkinson's disease.
• Evidence of significant cognitive impairment. This will be determined by completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
• Participants with poor walking ability (determined using the Timed Up and Go Test during initial testing).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Safety/Rate of Falls - Feasibility	From enrollment to both the 6 and 12 month endpoints	The rate falls related to walking program participation.
Enrollment - Feasibility	Through enrollment of all the study participants	The percentage of eligible participants that enroll in the study.
Attendance - Feasibility	Enrollment through the 6- and 12-month endpoints	The percentage of attended walking program session across all enrolled participants.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Steps per Day	From baseline assessment through the the end of the fall reporting period at 18 months	This outcome will be captured via wearable sensors worn through the duration of study participation.
Balance Discordance	From baseline assessment through the 6- and 12-month endpoints	This is the difference between actual balance confidence (captured via the activities specific balance confidence scale) and predicted balance confidence (modeled from time to complete the Timed Up and Go Test).
Loneliness	From baseline assessment through the 6- and 12-month endpoints	Assessed with the 20 item UCLA loneliness scale in which subjects rate the degree of loneliness that they experience in daily life. The scale has a minimum score of 20 and maximum score of 80 with higher scores indicating that the individual is experience more loneliness.
Social Connection	From baseline assessment through the 6- and 12-month endpoints	Assessed with the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index, an 11-item questionnaire in which participants rate their perceived social network and isolation. The index has a minimum score of zero and maximum score of 11 with higher score indicating a larger and stronger social network.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Integrated Health and Movement Science Laboratory, Saint Louis University; 🇺🇸 St. Louis, Missouri, United States