Using Smartphones to Improve Physical Activity Levels of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

NCT ID: NCT05317832

Last Updated: 2025-10-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

196 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-05-25

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The overarching goal of this research study is to evaluate a sensor-enabled, just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) strategy to increase and sustain physical activity levels among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in their communities. A primary objective of this study is to evaluate the integration of a JITAI with a web-based physical activity intervention program. We hypothesize that the integration of web-based physical activity intervention program with JITAI will result in significantly higher physical activity levels compared to the standard web-based physical activity intervention program alone. A secondary objective of this study is to extend existing algorithms that use commercial wearable technology to robustly detect physical activity behaviors to facilitate the delivery of tailored just-in-time actionable feedback and physical activity recommendations for individuals with SCI.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The integration of the JITAI, which provides feedback and physical activity recommendations due to sensor-based assessments of physical activity, with a standard web-based physical activity intervention program will be tested via a clinical trial. Specifically, individuals with SCI will be randomized to web-based physical activity intervention program (WI) or web-based physical activity intervention program combined with the JITAI (WI + JITAI). Within the WI + JITAI arm, a micro-randomized trial - a clinical trial design for optimizing mobile-Health interventions - will be used to randomize participants several times a day to various types of tailored feedback and physical activity recommendations.

Aim 1: Evaluate the efficacy of the WI + JITAI compared to the standard WI alone. We hypothesize that the integration of WI + JITAI will result in significantly higher physical activity levels compared to the standard WI alone.

Aim 2: Use a micro-randomized trial design to optimize the delivery of just-in-time physical activity feedback and recommendations in promoting physical activity.

Aim 3: Investigate moderators of the effect of WI + JITAI vs. standard WI alone. Moderators will include age, gender, race/ethnicity, level of injury, function, mobility, pain, and fatigue.

The proposed study will yield novel insights about JITAIs and JITAIs combined with more traditional, WI programs, which will help researchers design engaging physical activity interventions for individuals with disability in the community that may improve their health and quality of life.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The proposed study is a 24-week longitudinal study that will comprise of 2 weeks of baseline physical activity monitoring, 14 weeks of physical activity monitoring and intervention, and 8 weeks of physical activity monitoring to assess physical activity level sustainability. Individuals with SCI will be randomized to a web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program or a WI program combined with the JITAI (WI + JITAI). Within the WI + JITAI arm, a micro-randomized trial - a clinical trial design for optimizing mobile-Health interventions - will be used to randomize participants several times a day to various types of tailored feedback and physical activity recommendations.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
All participants will be provided with the same WI program and mobile health technology. Furthermore, the participants in the WI + JITAI arm will receive randomized prompts of various types of tailored feedback and physical activity recommendations.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program

Participants in the WI arm will take part in the WI program (weeks 3 to 16). After the WI program is completed in week 16, the participants will transition to the physical activity sustainability phase which will include participants having continued access to the information provided during the WI program (weeks 17 to 24).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

WI program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This 14-week web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program was developed by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability. The WI program was developed with guidance from literature and practice in health behavior change and internet-based health promotion programming. The content and features of the WI program include motivational resource, updated weekly resources, and customizable features.

WI Program Reminder

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with reminders to use the WI program

Weekly PA Information

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the last 7 days.

Web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program + just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI)

Participants in the WI + JITAI arm will take part in the WI program (weeks 3 to 16). After the WI program is completed in week 16, the participants will transition to the physical activity sustainability phase which will include participants having continued access to the information provided during the WI program (weeks 17 to 24). In addition, participants will have access to the JITAI that will provide just-in-time feedback and physical activity recommendations (weeks 3 to 24). The type of the feedback and recommendation messages in the WI + JITAI arm will be delivered using micro-randomization, which involves random selection of intervention components at each possible time of delivery.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

WI program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This 14-week web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program was developed by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability. The WI program was developed with guidance from literature and practice in health behavior change and internet-based health promotion programming. The content and features of the WI program include motivational resource, updated weekly resources, and customizable features.

WI Program Reminder

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with reminders to use the WI program

JITAI Goal Setting

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with standard, tailored, or no goal for the day. The goal will focus on recommending minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity and a reminder to perform strength exercises.

JITAI physical activity message

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be provided with minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity achieved, minutes of physical activity remaining, or no message.

Notification EMA

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will be inquired through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) if they received a JITAI physical activity message.

End of day EMA

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will be inquired, through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA), if they performed aerobic and/or strength exercises for the day.

Wake up time EMA

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will be inquired, through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA), about the time they plan to wake up next day. This information will be used to provide a goal setting message for next day.

Weekly PA Information

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the last 7 days.

Daily PA Information

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the day.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

WI program

This 14-week web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program was developed by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability. The WI program was developed with guidance from literature and practice in health behavior change and internet-based health promotion programming. The content and features of the WI program include motivational resource, updated weekly resources, and customizable features.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

WI Program Reminder

Participants will be provided with reminders to use the WI program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

JITAI Goal Setting

Participants will be provided with standard, tailored, or no goal for the day. The goal will focus on recommending minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity and a reminder to perform strength exercises.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

JITAI physical activity message

Participants will be provided with minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity achieved, minutes of physical activity remaining, or no message.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Notification EMA

Participants will be inquired through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) if they received a JITAI physical activity message.

Intervention Type OTHER

End of day EMA

Participants will be inquired, through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA), if they performed aerobic and/or strength exercises for the day.

Intervention Type OTHER

Wake up time EMA

Participants will be inquired, through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA), about the time they plan to wake up next day. This information will be used to provide a goal setting message for next day.

Intervention Type OTHER

Weekly PA Information

Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the last 7 days.

Intervention Type OTHER

Daily PA Information

Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the day.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* 18-75 years of age
* have a traumatic or non-traumatic SCI (classification of neurological level of injury at cervical level 5 (C5) and below)
* are at least 6-months post-SCI
* use a manual or a power wheelchair as their primary means of mobility (\>80% of time)
* can use their arms to exercise
* show readiness to physical activity as assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
* have experience using a smartphone and smartwatch.

Exclusion Criteria

* any secondary complications that medically restrict their activity in any way such as cardiovascular disease, pressure injuries, contractures, and infections
* are diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Northeastern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Thomas Jefferson University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Jefferson Health

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Michigan

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Temple University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Temple University

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD

Role: CONTACT

2152040496

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD

Role: primary

215-204-0496

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Carey RL, Le H, Coffman DL, Nahum-Shani I, Thirumalai M, Hagen C, Baehr LA, Schmidt-Read M, Lamboy MSR, Kolakowsky-Hayner SA, Marino RJ, Intille SS, Hiremath SV. mHealth-Based Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Improve the Physical Activity Levels of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Jun 28;13:e57699. doi: 10.2196/57699.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38941145 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

R01HD103904

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

27338

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Telenutrition in Spinal Cord Injury
NCT03714217 COMPLETED NA
Retraining Walking After Spinal Cord Injury
NCT00059553 UNKNOWN PHASE2/PHASE3