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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05574426

Efficacy of Movement Breaks in Real-World Settings

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of performing "exercise snacks" (short movement breaks throughout the day) on various measures of cardiometabolic health.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Behavior Sedentary Behavior

Age range

40 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

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About this study

After being informed about the study and potential risks, all eligible participants who have provided consent will undergo a baseline visit to assess pre-intervention basic anthropometrics, cardiorespiratory fitness, and provide a blood sample. Participants will then be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: 1) Mobility movement breaks (stretching or range of motion exercises); or 2) Cardiovascular movement breaks (designed to raise heart rate). Both groups will be encouraged to perform 3-4 daily movement breaks on at least 3 days of the week with support from an online platform and app that provides video instructions and reminders to complete the movement breaks. After 12 weeks, participants will be asked to return to the lab for the same testing performed at baseline.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Physically inactive (performing <150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise per week, assessed by pre-screening Get Active Questionnaire);
  • Body Mass Index: 18.5-30.0 kg/m2;
  • Not currently diagnosed with or being treated for cardiometabolic disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, diabetes);
  • Not a current smoker;
  • Cleared to engage in physical activity using the Get Active Questionnaire and, if applicable, consultation with a Qualified Exercise Professional;
  • Access to a computer, tablet or smartphone for intervention delivery and tracking

Exclusion criteria

  • Chronic health condition preventing participation in exercise;
  • Lack of access to internet connection

Treatment and study plan

Movement Breaks

Behavioral

Participants will be asked to perform 30-60 second movement breaks 3-4 times per day on at least 3 days per week.

Other names: Activity Snacks

Primary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Cardiorespiratory Fitness at 12 Weeks

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 12

    Cardiorespiratory fitness will be assessed as the highest 30-s average from a laboratory-based graded VO2peak test on a cycle ergometer.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Plasma Insulin

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    A fasted venous blood sample will be obtained and insulin measured by commercial assay.

  2. Change From Baseline in Plasma Glucose

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    A fasted venous blood sample will be obtained and glucose measured by biochemical assay.

  3. Change From Baseline in Insulin Resistance

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    A fasted venous blood sample will be obtained and insulin resistance estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) score

  4. Change From Baseline in Inflammatory Cytokines

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    A fasted venous blood sample will be obtained and inflammatory cytokines measured by multiplex assay

  5. Change From Baseline in Body Mass

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    Body mass will be measured by weigh scale

  6. Change From Baseline in Waist Circumference

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    Waist circumference (in centimetres) will be measured using a measurement tape.

  7. Device-Measured Adherence to Movement Breaks

    Time frame: Week 2 and week 11

    Participants will wear accelerometers to assess adherence near the beginning and the end of the intervention.

  8. Self-Reported Adherence to Movement Breaks

    Time frame: Once per week for 12 weeks

    Participants will be sent weekly surveys asking them to recall the total number of movement breaks performed that week.

  9. Movement Break Enjoyment Assessed by the Exercise Enjoyment Scale (EES)

    Time frame: Immediately following each movement break for entire 12-week intervention

    The EES is a validated, single-item 7-point scale to assess exercise enjoyment. Possible scores range from 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely).

  10. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Following Movement Breaks

    Time frame: Immediately following each movement break for entire 12-week intervention

    A 10 point RPE scale will be used to assess perceived exertion ranging from 0 (rest) to 10 (maximal).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of British Columbia

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • McMaster University

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Oct 10, 2022
Registry last updated
Mar 21, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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