Clinical Research Directory

Promoting Walking Among Older Adults Through Affective Communication and Step-Monitoring

Physical inactivity increases substantially after age 60 and represents a major public health challenge in older adults, as it is linked to increased risk of functional and cognitive decline and aging problems. Walking is one of the most accessible and recommended forms of light-to-moderate physical activity for this population. However, promoting sustained engagement in walking remains difficult, as traditional informational approaches often fail to activate personally meaningful motivations. This study tests whether persuasive affective messages can promote walking by leveraging self-continuity, meaning the use of autobiographical memory to maintain the sense of being the same person across time and contexts, connecting the past, present, and future self. Self-continuity is associated with psychological resources such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, and a sense of meaning in life. The affective mechanism that sustains self-continuity is nostalgia: both promote emotional and behavioral regulation and support goal achievement. Building on this framework, the present trial examines whether activating feelings of self-continuity and positive nostalgic memories can strengthen older adults' motivation to engage in walking behavior. In addition, the study investigates whether combining self-continuity messaging with a self-regulation strategy (daily step monitoring) enhances intervention effectiveness. Self-monitoring is a well-established behavioral technique that supports goal pursuit by increasing awareness and feedback. Using a 4-arm randomised controlled factorial design, the study compares the effects of self-continuity messages, step-monitoring reminders, their combination, and an active control condition on walking behaviour and its psychological determinants. A national sample of 1,000 Italian adults aged 65-74, recruited through a certified panel provider (Ipsos) and balanced for age, gender, and geographic region, will be randomly assigned to one of the four conditions. All participants will receive one message per day through a mobile application over a 14-day period. Participants in the step-monitoring conditions will also be asked to track and report their daily step count using a pedometer application. Behavioral, psychological, and process measures will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The study therefore aims to provide experimental evidence on the role of self-continuity as a motivational driver of health behaviour change, and to clarify whether combining affective and self-regulatory strategies enhances intervention effectiveness in older adults.

Effects of a Powered Lower-Limb Exoskeleton on Walking Performance in Older Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a powered wearable lower-limb exoskeleton can improve walking performance in independently ambulatory older adults aged 65 to 75 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does use of a powered lower-limb exoskeleton increase comfortable walking speed over 10 meters? * Does use of a powered lower-limb exoskeleton increase average walking speed during a 400-meter walk? Researchers will compare walking performance in older adults during walking with the powered exoskeleton and walking without the device to determine whether the exoskeleton improves mobility. Young-adult reference participants will also complete walking assessments to provide reference values for walking performance. Participants will: * Attend a screening and familiarization visit. * Complete walking assessments with and without the powered exoskeleton in randomized order (older adults only). * Perform a 10-meter walk test, a 400-meter walk test, and other physical performance assessments. * Complete questionnaires about balance confidence, fear of falling, and device usability. * Be monitored for safety events during testing.

Daily Goal Setting to Increase Everyday Physical Activity and Promote Cognitive Health in Midlife

The purpose of this study is to determine whether interaction with an adaptive Fitbit-based goal setting application can increase levels of everyday light intensity physical activity in middle-aged adults.

Effects of Standing Desks and Intermittent Walking on Cognitive Fatigue

The objective of this randomized-controlled crossover design was to identify inter-individual responses to the use of sitting desks, standing desks and two minutes of walking after twenty-eight minutes of sitting on the performance of cognitive tasks and moods in healthy undergraduate and graduate students. Participants were randomly assigned to an order of interventions and were asked to perform 26 minutes of cognitive tasks followed by completing 2 minutes of surveys where they were asked about their moods. Following the 28 minute cognitive battery participants were given a 2 minute break. In the seated condition participants performed all tasks on a seated desk and had to remain seated for their 2 minute break. In the standing condition participants performed the entire battery standing and had to remain standing for the 2 minute break. In the intermittent walking condition, participants performed all tasks in a seated condition and for their 2 minute break, participants were asked to walk for 2 minutes at a pace that they felt comfortable.

The Effect of Remotely Delivered Pilates on Physical , and Psychological Outcomes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Objectives Objective 1: To determine the effects of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS. Objective 2: To examine the impact of a 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention on depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS. Aim Aim 1: To assess whether the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention significantly improves walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS Aim 2: To investigate whether the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention significantly improves depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS. Hypothesis Hypothesis 1: The 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention will significantly improve walking endurance, walking speed, balance, fatigue, and pain compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS. Hypothesis 2: Participants receiving the 16-week remotely delivered Pilates intervention will demonstrate significantly greater improvements in depression \& anxiety, cognitive function, and QOL compared to a waitlist control group in individuals with MS.

Impact of a Multicomponent Exercise Program on Cognitive and Functional Outcomes in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The goal of this randomised clinical trial is to investigate the effectiveness of an innovative therapeutic exercise program emphasizing in dual-task exercises in people with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the innovative therapeutic exercise program improve gait and balance? Does the innovative therapeutic exercise program improve cognition? Researchers will compare the innovative therapeutic exercise program emphasizing in dual-task exercises to a therapeutic exercise program without emphasizing in dual-task exercises and to a control group (given instruction about the benefits of exercise). Participants will: * Perform the exercise program twice a week for three months. * Will be assessed before and after the intervention. * Will record The Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion every second week to monitor and assess the progression of exercise intensity.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training Program in Females With Insulin Resistant Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Design: RCT Randomized Clinical Trial Non Probability Convenient Sampling Technique Duration of treatment: 25 weeks 2 groups; (group A=30) SSAET +Normal routine medication+ Normal Dietary Plan , Other group (Group B=30) with normal routine medication + Normal Dietary Plan. Patients will be enrolled in experimental group according to speeds test. HYPOTHESIS: Alternate hypothesis: There is difference on the effects of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on serum BDNF, androgens level, menstrual irregularity and quality of life in females with insulin resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome. Null Hypothesis: There is no difference on the effects of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on serum BDNF, androgens level, menstrual irregularity and quality of life in females with insulin resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on quality of life in women with PCOS. 2\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on BDNF levels in women with PCOS. 3\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on mental health (stress, depression, anxiety) in women with PCOS. 4\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on BMI in women with PCOS. 5\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on menstrual irregularity in women with PCOS. 6\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on Aerobic fitness in women with PCOS. 7\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on androgens level in PCOS. 8\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on Lipid accumulation product in PCOS. 9\. To determine the effect of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on Glycemic control in PCOS.

Effectiveness of Suit Therapy With Dual Task Exercises on Gross Motor Functions and Walking in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

This study aims to investigate the effect of suit therapy combined with dual-task training on gross motor performance and walking abilities in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.