Motivating Activity Through Text Communications - Helping Adults Increase Movement (NCT07593677) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Motivating Activity Through Text Communications - Helping Adults Increase Movement
United States150 participantsStarted 2026-06-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effect of different types of text messages on physical activity levels of middle-aged and older adults and to determine whether these messages are effective in adults age 40 and older who are engaging in less than 90 minutes per week of moderate or higher intensity physical activity. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Which types of motivational messages show the greatest effects on changes in daily step counts in a 3-month precision text messaging intervention?
* What are the effects of personalized text messages on automatic affective evaluations, habit strength (experienced automaticity), exercise identity, working memory capacity, and processing speed?
Participants will:
* Wear a Fitbit activity tracker continuously for 3 months and are encouraged to continue wearing it through 6 months.
* Wear an activPAL activity monitor on their thigh for 7-day assessment periods at the beginning of the study, at 3 months, and at 6 months.
* Complete 3 cognitive assessments ("brain games") per day on their smartphone during the 7-day assessment periods at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
* Be asked to set goals to increase their daily steps over the first 3 months of the study.
* Receive up to 4 motivational text messages per day for 3 months to encourage physical activity.
* Keep study-related apps (Fitbit app, AIM app, MetricWire app) open in the background on their smartphone.
* Complete questionnaires at the beginning of the study, at 3 months, and at 6 months
Who can participate
Age range
40 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Be 40 years of age or older
* Own a smartphone running an Android or iOS operating system
* Have proficiency with the English language
* Be capable of providing informed consent
* Be able to perform moderate physical activity without restrictions
* Be willing to complete the entire 6-month protocol
* Be willing to establish a 12-hour window - beginning no later than 9:45 am and ending no later than 9:45 pm - for receiving text messages.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Residing outside of the continental United States
* Self-reporting 90 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week
* contraindications to normal physical activity as identified on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
* Mobility restrictions that interfere with unassisted physical activity
* Being pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study
* Planning to undergo surgery during the course of the study protocol
* Having a prior diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia
* Evidence of mild cognitive impairment as indicated by a mini-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test score of 12 or higher
* Concurrent participation in another study involving weight loss or physical activity
* Failure to respond to at least 85% of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) prompts during the 7-day qualification phase.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Daily Step Count
Timeframe: The activPAL is worn on the thigh for a 7-day assessment period before the intervention begins (baseline), after 3 months of intervention, and then again 3 months after the intervention is complete. The total time frame is 6 months.