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NCT Number: NCT07166822

The Role of Mobile Apps in Promoting Cardiovascular Health and Motivation to Exercise During Pregnancy

The goal of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a mobile exercise app in improving cardiovascular health and motivation to exercise in pregnant women who are healthy, in their 2nd trimester, between 18-45 years age, and do not do exercise currently. The aims of this study are determine i) the effect of a mobile app (BumptUp) to increase motivation to exercise as assessed by questionnaire, and ii) the changes may occur in cardiovascular health outcomes such as increased percent Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and decreased Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) over an 8-week period of intervention. Researchers will compare this to pregnant women who are healthy, in their 2nd trimester, between 18-45 years age, and who will not be using the mobile app (BumptUp) for exercise. Participants who are in the experimental group will be given access to the mobile app (BumptUp) for 8 weeks. Both the control and experimental group will visit the lab for their baseline measurements (study visit 1), followed by two visits at 4 weeks (study visit 2) and 8 weeks (study visit 3) to have their heart rate variability, arterial stiffness (PWV), and vascular function (FMD) assessed. At each study visit, blood pressure, heart rate, height, and weight will also be measured. Additionally, at all three study visits, participants will fill out a questionnaire to determine motivation to exercise.

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Key information

Conditions

Cardiovascular (CV) Risk Behavior Exercise Motor Activity

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, Virginia, 23529, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Principal investigator, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

757-239-7889

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age: 18-45 years.
  • Pregnant women who are 20-24 weeks pregnant at enrollment
  • Sedentary, as defined by completing less than 90 minutes of exercise each week.
  • Generally healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies.
  • Free of physical limitations that may interfere with alterations in daily physical activity levels.
  • Single gestation.
  • Have a smartphone
  • Under the routine medical care of an obstetrician or certified nurse midwife during their current pregnancy.
  • Women speaking English.

Exclusion criteria

  • Physician diagnosed cardiovascular/ vascular complications (heart disease, high blood pressure, Raynaud's phenomenon etc.)
  • Physician diagnosed metabolic diseases (diabetes, hypothyroidism)
  • Musculoskeletal injuries (broken bones, back pain, ankle sprain, muscle pull, etc.)
  • Medications that may impact blood vessel function such as hypertension medication (Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, Angiotensin receptor blocker, Calcium channel blocker, beta blocker), lipid lowering agents (statins), Nitrates, steroids, etc.
  • Complications associated with pregnancy that would be exacerbated by exercise such as lung disease, persistent spotting/bleeding or Placental Previa, premature labor, ruptured membranes, evidence of intrauterine growth restriction, pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia, uncontrolled epileptic fits/seizures.
  • Smoking within the previous 3 months.

Treatment and study plan

Experimental group using BumptUp mobile exercise app

Behavioral

This BumptUp app has been developed specifically for pregnancy with safety and screening feature. This intervention will be unique since the researchers will evaluate the cardiovascular health outcomes following the 8 weeks of intervention.

Other names: BumptUp app

Primary outcomes

  1. Flow mediated dilation

    Time frame: 8 weeks of intervention period

    The cardiovascular health via flow mediated dilation (% change from baseline) will be assessed

Secondary outcomes

  1. Arterial stiffness

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Cardiovascular health will be measured via arterial stiffness determining pulse wave velocity (m/sec)

Other outcomes

  1. Heart rate variability

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Cardiovascular health will be measured via heart rate variability (msec).

  2. motivation to exercise

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Motivation to exercise will be measured via questionnaire

Study contacts

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

Principal Investigator, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

757-683-4974

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Old Dominion University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Sep 10, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 10, 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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