Smartphone app to boost exercise in Parkinson's patients
Official title: STEPWISE Parkinson: A Smartphone Based, Titrated Exercise Solution for Patients With Parkinson's Disease in Daily Life
Run by Radboud University Medical Center · NCT04848077 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests if a smartphone app can help people with Parkinson's Disease exercise more and improve their fitness over a year.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 452 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Radboud University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nijmegen, Gelderland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 18, 2021 |
| Main results expected | September 2026 |
| Study ends | September 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 20, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT04848077 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Dutch-speaking individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease who can walk independently and have a baseline physical activity level of less than 7,000 steps per day.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with cognitive impairments, other medical conditions affecting mobility, or those living in nursing homes may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of a smartphone application designed to increase physical activity among patients with Parkinson's Disease over a 12-month period. It aims to determine if the app can motivate users to enhance their daily exercise levels and assess the impact on their physical fitness and symptoms related to the disease. The study employs a double-blind randomized controlled trial design, enrolling 452 Dutch patients who meet specific eligibility criteria. Participants will be assigned to different groups based on the degree of physical activity increase relative to their baseline levels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the physical activity levels and overall quality of life for patients with Parkinson's Disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promising results with smartphone-based interventions for increasing physical activity in various populations, suggesting potential success for this approach in Parkinson's patients.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * idiopathic PD * Hoehn and Yahr 1-3 * able to understand the Dutch language * able to walk independently * equal to or less than 120 minutes of sports/outdoor activities per day (question 5-28 LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire (LAPAQ)) * less than 7,000 steps/day during 1-month baseline (week -4 until 0) Exclusion Criteria: * weekly falls in the previous 3 months * medical conditions that hamper mobility other than PD * living in a nursing home * cognitive impairments that hamper use of the motivational app (subjective evaluation by the assessor) * not in the possession of a suitable smartphone (Iphone 5S or newer with iOS 10 or higher or Android 4.1 or newer)
Where it's running
-
Radboud university medical center
Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Bastiaan Bloem, Prof. Dr. — Radboudumc Department of Neurology
- Study coordinator: Sabine Schootemeijer, MSc
- Email: sabine.schootemeijer@radboudumc.nl
- Phone: 00316 50155754
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.