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NCT Number: NCT06859528

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

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.

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Behavior Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Motor Activity Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

30 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Integrated Health and Movement Science Laboratory, Saint Louis University

St Louis, Missouri, 63104, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

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).

Treatment and study plan

Community Walking Program

Behavioral

This is a group, community walking program at local parks using Nordic walking poles. Participants will be encouraged to walk briskly but safely for 60 minutes one time per week with the ultimate goal of using this community walking program to drive behavioral change (increased physical and social engagement in their communities) throughout the week.

Primary outcomes

  1. Safety/Rate of Falls - Feasibility

    Time frame: From enrollment to both the 6 and 12 month endpoints

    The rate falls related to walking program participation.

  2. Enrollment - Feasibility

    Time frame: Through enrollment of all the study participants

    The percentage of eligible participants that enroll in the study.

  3. Attendance - Feasibility

    Time frame: Enrollment through the 6- and 12-month endpoints

    The percentage of attended walking program session across all enrolled participants.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Steps per Day

    Time frame: 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.

  2. Balance Discordance

    Time frame: 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).

  3. Loneliness

    Time frame: 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.

  4. Social Connection

    Time frame: 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.

Study contacts

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

Jason K Longhurst, DPT, PHD

CONTACT

[email protected]

314-977-8533

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

St. Louis University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 5, 2025
Registry last updated
May 14, 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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