On the Move group exercise to improve walking in older adults

Effectiveness of the On the Move group exercise program to improve mobility in community-dwelling older adults

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11178447

This project will see whether the On the Move group exercise program, run by community providers, helps older adults walk better and stay more independent.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11178447 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would join group exercise classes offered at community sites where local instructors deliver the On the Move program instead of research staff. The program will be compared to usual community exercise classes across multiple sites to track changes in walking and mobility. Researchers will monitor how closely instructors follow the program (intervention fidelity) and link that to participant outcomes. The study is focused on whether benefits seen in controlled trials carry over when the program is delivered in real-world community settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Older adults living in the community who can attend in-person group exercise classes and want to improve walking or mobility are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who are non-ambulatory, medically unstable, unable to attend group classes, or living in long-term institutional care may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, community centers could offer a proven exercise program that helps older adults improve walking and maintain independence.

How similar studies have performed: Previous trials, including a PCORI-funded cluster randomized trial, showed On the Move improved walking compared with usual exercise, so this work builds on positive prior results.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.