Inspiring Seniors to Exercise More with Personalized Music

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will enroll community-dwelling adults 65 and older who are currently low-active and compare two 6-month exercise programs: one with personalized rhythm-enhanced music (RAS) and one without music. The program follows the standard guidelines for older adults, gradually reducing supervision to help participants learn independent exercise. Outcomes include weekly physical activity measured by a hip-worne tracker and mood-related attitudes captured monthly via text-based prompts, along with cognitive, vascular, fitness, and quality-of-life assessments before and after the program and at follow-up. The goal is to see if music that matches walking or cycling tempo improves adherence and affective response to exercise.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults over 65 years old.
* Ambulatory without pain or the use of assisted walking devices.
* Able to speak and read English.
* Healthy enough to exercise at moderate intensity with or without medical clearance by a primary care physician.
* Living in the community for the duration of the study (9-10 months).
* Having a reliable means of transportation.
* Having a safe place at home or at a residential area (at least 6 feet by 6 feet of open space) for unsupervised exercise training.
* Being low-active (\< 90 min/week of MAT and \< 2 days/week of ST for the last 3 months).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed progressive, neurodegenerative, or severe central nervous system disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or history of stroke with residual deficits) that significantly impair cognitive function, motor skills, or the ability to engage in independent exercise training over moderate intensity
* Participants with a history of episodic or peripheral neurological conditions (such as neuralgia or migraines) or stable cardiovascular/metabolic conditions may be included if they receive formal written medical clearance from their primary care physician or treating specialist, confirming it is safe for them to engage in unsupervised exercise training at moderate intensity.
* Known exercise contraindications (uncontrolled hypertension, joint problems, diabetes, metabolic conditions, etc.), determined by self-report on the PAR-Q+.
* Current or upcoming cancer treatment, determined by self-report on the PAR-Q+.
* Stroke or neural impairment in the past 6 months, as self-reported on the PAR-Q+.
* Hip/knee/spinal fracture or surgery in the past 6 months, determined by self-report on the ACSM Health Screening Questionnaire.
* Unable or unwilling to attend intervention classes, as determined by phone screening.
* Currently participating in any other exercise or fitness-related research study, determined by phone screening.
* Use of medications for cognitive impairment, as self-reported on the medication survey.
* Initiation or change in dosage of psychiatric medications (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics) within the past 8 weeks; participants must be on a stable dose for at least 2 months before enrollment and intend to maintain this dose throughout the 8-month study period.
* Self-report regularly drinking \> 14 alcoholic beverages a week or current illicit drug use, determined by self-report to screening surveys.
* Current regular or hazardous use of illicit substances, or misuse of prescription medications, that occurs on a weekly or more frequent basis, or any substance use that, in the judgment of the investigator, would systematically confound weekly affective assessments or compromise safety during unsupervised exercise training, determined by self-report to screening surveys
* Cannot ambulate without a walker/cane, assessed in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health Screening Questionnaire
* Having cognitive impairment, determined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) BLIND \< 17.
* Meet the threshold for clinical depression, determined by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R).
* Uncorrected hearing or visual impairments, self-reported on the Health History Questionnaire.
* Unable to understand the study procedure.
* One of the household members is participating in this study, as self-reported during phone screening.

Where it's running

• Emory University
  Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kyoung Shin Park, PhD — Emory University
• Study coordinator: Kaetlin Marsh, MPH
• Email: kaetlin.marsh@emory.edu
• Phone: 404-544-2381

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.