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NCT Number: NCT07285954

Mindfulness Walking Intervention to Enhance Resilience (iWalk)

This study is a randomized controlled trial of the walking meditation intervention (iWalk) program, a multi-component intervention integrating walking meditation, education, and group sessions designed to enhance resilience in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The objectives are to evaluate:

1. Recruitment capability and retention rates, 2. Acceptability and adherence to the intervention, 3. Feasibility of assessment procedures, and 4. Preliminary effects on psychological, physiological, and behavioral outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

Neurodegenerative Disease Adults Behavior EEG Emotional Regulation Mindfulness Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Self-Control Social Behavior

Age range

18 year–110 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Chung-Yi Chiu

CONTACT

[email protected]

217-244-6435

Chung-Yi Chiu, Ph.D.

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

CONTACT

[email protected]

About this study

The iWalk Program is an 8-week, multi-component behavioral intervention integrating mindfulness-based stress reduction and walking meditation to promote resilience and self-regulation in people with MS. The intervention combines weekly educational content, guided walking meditation, and group reflection delivered both in-person and virtually. Participants in the experimental group will attend three one-hour sessions per week (two via Zoom, one in-person) focusing on mindfulness, interoception, emotional regulation, and positive coping.

The waitlist control group will receive usual care during the trial period and will be offered participation after study completion.

Assessments include psychological questionnaires, electroencephalography (EEG), cognitive tasks, balance testing, and physical activity monitoring using Fitbit and Hexoskin wearable sensors. Data analysis includes assessing quantitative and qualitative changes in resilience, stress, mindfulness, mood, interoceptive awareness, quality of life, and physical activity over 8 weeks.

The total study duration is 10 weeks per participant, including baseline and post-intervention assessments.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years or older,
  • clinical diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, etc.,
  • have not practiced meditation regularly (e.g., 10 mins per day) and have never attended any meditation classes or community programs,
  • never received meditation training via coaching/certification/life coaching,
  • have internet access,
  • with no severe cognitive impairment, i.e., have a score of ≥ 21 on Modified Telephonic Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M),
  • be able to walk with or without an assistive device (Patient determined Disease Steps score ranged from 0-6),
  • are willing to be randomized to an intervention or a control group,
  • are willing to wear Fitbit (a wrist smart watch) for eight weeks,
  • are individuals who are right-handed according to the Edinburgh Handedness Questionnaire,
  • are willing to participate in all assessments, including in-person testing using electroencephalography (EEG) and cognitive tests, online survey/questionnaires, and online interviews or focus group discussions,
  • are willing to wear a Hexoskin t-shirt, which is a heart rate variability monitor, while doing the assessments in person.

Exclusion criteria

Participants who cannot speak, read, write, or listen in English.

Treatment and study plan

iWalk Program

Behavioral

A multi-component behavioral program integrating walking meditation, education, and group sessions to enhance resilience and stress regulation in adults with and without chronic conditions.

Primary outcomes

  1. Connor Davidson Resilience Scale for Adults (CD-RISC 25)

    Time frame: The baseline means assessments done two weeks before the intervention start date. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted two weeks after the intervention. Follow-up 1 is 24 weeks from baseline, and follow-up 2 is 48 weeks from baseline.

  2. Multiple Sclerosis Resilience Scale (MSRS)

    Time frame: The baseline means assessments done two weeks before the intervention start date. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted two weeks after the intervention. Follow-up 1 is 24 weeks from baseline, and follow-up 2 is 48 weeks from baseline.

  3. Stroop Task

    Time frame: The baseline means assessments done two weeks before the intervention start date. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted two weeks after the intervention. Follow-up 1 is 24 weeks from baseline, and follow-up 2 is 48 weeks from baseline.

  4. Symbol Digit Modalities Test

    Time frame: The baseline means assessments done two weeks before the intervention start date. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted two weeks after the intervention. Follow-up 1 is 24 weeks from baseline, and follow-up 2 is 48 weeks from baseline.

  5. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

    Time frame: The baseline means assessments done two weeks before the intervention start date. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted two weeks after the intervention. Follow-up 1 is 24 weeks from baseline, and follow-up 2 is 48 weeks from baseline.

  6. Sustained Attention to Response Task

    Time frame: The baseline means assessments done two weeks before the intervention start date. Post-intervention assessments will be conducted two weeks after the intervention. Follow-up 1 is 24 weeks from baseline, and follow-up 2 is 48 weeks from baseline.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Chung-Yi Chiu

CONTACT

[email protected]

12172446435

Vaishnavi Sridharan

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Walking Meditation Intervention (iWalk) to Enhance Resilience in Adults

Acronym: iWalk

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Dec 16, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 16, 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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