Increase walking speed and endurance
- Trial ID
- NCT06707402
- Official Title
- The Effects of 24 Weeks Community-based Brisk Walking on Physical Function, Comorbidities, Cognition, Disease Severity, and Health-related Quality of Life in People With Parkinson's Disease.
- Goal
- Increase walking speed and endurance
- Phase
- NA
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sponsor
- University of Aarhus
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Enrollment
- 129 participants
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease
- Interventions
- WALK, ACTIVE, CON
Summary For Families
The goal is to find out whether a 24-week, community-based brisk walking program can improve walking ability, other health conditions, thinking, overall Parkinson's severity, and quality of life for people with Parkinson's. The approach uses regular brisk walking to raise heart rate, boost cardiovascular fitness, strengthen the muscles and neural circuits used for gait, and increase brain blood flow and growth factors that support cognition and motor control; it is meant to complement, not replace, medications like levodopa. The trial is looking for adults aged 40 and up with mild to moderate Parkinson's (Hoehn and Yahr stage 1,3) who report walking difficulties and can attend most sessions; people with dementia, major medical problems that prevent intense exercise, depression, pregnancy, alcohol abuse, or who already do frequent high-intensity brisk walking or use an activity tracker during exercise are excluded. The program runs for 24 weeks and aims to test real-world, group-based walking you can do in the community.
Locations
- Aarhus University, Department of Public Health, Sport Science, Aarhus C, Denmark
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this trial testing?
- This trial is studying WALK. The goal is to find out whether a 24-week, community-based brisk walking program can improve walking ability, other health conditions, thinking, overall Parkinson's severity, and quality of life for people with Parkinson's. The approach uses regular brisk walking to raise heart rate, boost cardiovascular fitness, strengthen the muscles and neural circuits used for gait, and increase brain blood flow and growth factors that support cognition and motor control; it is meant to complement, not replace, medications like levodopa. The trial is looking for adults aged 40 and up with mild to moderate Parkinson's (Hoehn and Yahr stage 1,3) who report walking difficulties and can attend most sessions; people with dementia, major medical problems that prevent intense exercise, depression, pregnancy, alcohol abuse, or who already do frequent high-intensity brisk walking or use an activity tracker during exercise are excluded. The program runs for 24 weeks and aims to test real-world, group-based walking you can do in the community.
- Who can participate?
- Participants must be at least 40 Years.
- Where is this trial located?
- This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- No. There is no cost to participate. Study-related care and treatment are provided at no charge.
- How long does the trial last?
- This trial is estimated to last approximately 2 years and 5 months.
- Will I get the real drug or a placebo?
- It depends on the trial design. Some Parkinson's trials are placebo controlled, meaning a portion of participants get an inactive comparison while others get the experimental treatment. Some use crossover designs so everyone eventually receives the active treatment at some point. Observational trials do not use a placebo at all because they are not testing a new treatment. The consent form for any specific trial spells out the design and your odds of being assigned to placebo before you enroll.
- How often will I need to visit the study site?
- Visit frequency varies by trial. Many Parkinson's studies require an in person visit every 4 to 12 weeks during the active treatment phase, with shorter or longer gaps depending on the design. The site coordinator can give you the full visit schedule before you sign anything, so you know what the time commitment looks like.
- Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?
- Yes. You can withdraw from any clinical trial at any time, for any reason, without affecting your standard medical care. Trials are voluntary by law. The team may ask if you are willing to do a brief exit visit so they can collect safety information, but you are not obligated.
- Will travel or parking be reimbursed?
- Many trials reimburse for parking, mileage, and sometimes lodging if the site is far from your home. Reimbursement policies vary by sponsor and site. When you contact the trial team, ask specifically what is covered and how reimbursement is processed.
- Can my spouse or care partner come with me to visits?
- In most cases yes, and it is often encouraged. Care partners can help with notes, questions, and getting home safely after a long visit. Some study assessments do need to happen one on one, but care partners are usually welcome for the rest of the appointment.