mHealth for Exercise Training

(MOTAFIT Trial)

Overseen By Kate Sansum, MSc

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Congenital cardiac, Respiratory, Metabolic, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if mobile technology (mHealth) helps young people start and maintain a regular exercise routine. Participants will receive exercise advice from a specialist, and some will also use a fitness watch connected to a mobile app for feedback. Researchers seek to understand if the watch and app facilitate reaching exercise goals more effectively than advice alone or no intervention. Teens aged 13-16 who speak English, do not currently meet exercise guidelines, and own a smartphone with a data plan are ideal candidates for this study. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for teens to explore innovative ways to improve their fitness habits.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this mHealth technology is safe for youth?

Research shows that mobile health (mHealth) technology, such as fitness apps and watches, is generally safe for encouraging physical activity. Many studies have examined these devices in exercise programs, finding them easy to use and effective in promoting activity.

For instance, one study found that mHealth tools significantly increased physical activity in older adults. Another review highlighted that mobile and wearable devices in exercise programs are safe and effective.

Studies have reported no major safety issues, suggesting that mHealth tools are a safe way to help people reach their exercise goals. These devices are both practical and beneficial in promoting exercise. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores using mHealth technology to enhance exercise training. Unlike traditional exercise programs, this approach integrates a wrist-worn fitness watch and a smartphone app to monitor and guide participants' workouts in real-time. This tech-savvy method promises not only to personalize exercise plans but also to keep participants engaged and motivated by providing instant feedback and progress tracking. The innovative use of technology aims to increase exercise intensity and adherence, potentially offering more effective ways to boost physical activity compared to conventional methods.

What evidence suggests that mHealth is effective for improving exercise adherence in youth?

Research has shown that mobile health tools, such as a fitness watch with an app, can help people become more active. In this trial, participants in the mHealth arm will use these tools to support their exercise routines. A review of several studies has found that these tools can increase overall physical activity and improve body weight and muscle strength. Another study found that these tools significantly increased walking and other types of exercise. This technology provides personalized feedback and tracks progress, motivating users to maintain their exercise routines. Overall, mobile health tools support better fitness habits and improve health outcomes. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Alison McManus, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia- Okanagan

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young people who want to start and keep up a regular exercise routine. Participants will get advice on exercising from a specialist. However, they can't join if certain conditions prevent them from safely engaging in physical activity.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 13 and 16 years old.

Be comfortable communicating in English

I am either male or female.

Exclusion Criteria

Have a known metabolic disease (e.g., Type 1 diabetes)

Are pregnant

Not owning a smartphone/ or having no data plan or access to Wi-Fi

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Testing

Participants complete pre-randomisation baseline testing

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo a 3-month structured exercise and PA intervention, supported by an exercise specialist, with or without mHealth technology

12 weeks

5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adherence and effectiveness of the exercise intervention

6 months

3 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• mHealth

Trial Overview

The study is testing if using mobile technology, like a fitness watch linked to an app, helps youth follow through with their exercise plans better than just getting counseling alone. Half the participants will use the tech while the other half won't.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: mHealth Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will undertake a 3-month structured exercise and PA intervention, supported by an exercise specialist. Participants will have 5 exercise consultations. Participants will receive a personalised progressive exercise programme. The aim will be to increase exercise intensity and duration during the first 3-months; aiming to meet the aerobic training guidelines of 3-4 sessions of at least 40 minutes at 85-90% heart rate maximum or of vigorous intensity. During follow-up, the aim will be to at least maintain this level of exercise. Participants will receive 1) a wrist worn fitness watch (Polar Ignite), featuring a 3d accelerometer and optical heart rate monitor, and 2) a smartphone app for participants (Polar Flow - Sync \& Analyse). These will be synced, allowing data to be transferred to the exercise specialist, who will created monitor pre-set exercise sessions.

Group II: Active control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive no exercise or PA intervention. Participants will continue with regular PA behaviours as an active control comparator. Participants in the control group will be monitored at the start and the end of the 3 months intervention period (2 weeks) to determine habitual PA and exercise levels

Group III: Exercise Counselling Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will undertake the same 3-month structured exercise and PA intervention, supported by an exercise specialist, but without the use of mHealth technology to support the prescription and adherence to the exercise. Participants will be monitored using a wrist worn fitness watch, but will not receive feedback or have pre-set exercise sessions through the mHealth technology

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

MOSS ROCK PARK FOUNDATION

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

120+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a 1.5-year study involving 274 male veterans with cardiovascular disease risk factors, only one serious adverse event (atrial fibrillation) occurred, indicating that a progressive walking program can be safely recommended for high-risk individuals.

While minor musculoskeletal issues were common, over half of the reported adverse events were unrelated to the exercise program, highlighting the need for strategies to help individuals with chronic illnesses safely resume physical activity after any health setbacks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events among high-risk participants in a home-based walking study: a descriptive study. Goodrich, DE., Larkin, AR., Lowery, JC., et al.[2022]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 209 elderly participants (average age 80), a home-based exercise program was found to be generally safe, with 151 adverse events reported, affecting 47% of participants.

Despite the program's safety, 14% of the adverse events were serious, highlighting that high levels of pre-existing morbidity in this population can pose challenges to maintaining consistent exercise participation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events in mobility-limited and chronically ill elderly adults participating in an exercise intervention study supported by general practitioner practices. Hinrichs, T., Bücker, B., Wilm, S., et al.[2015]

A novel smartphone app for exercise training demonstrated high accuracy and precision in measuring movement, with mean differences of less than 1°/s compared to a gold standard dynamometer across various speeds.

The app's performance was validated with a coefficient of variation under 3% for most velocities, indicating it can reliably track exercise movements, making it a promising tool for clinicians to monitor patient performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Accuracy and Precision of an Accelerometer-Based Smartphone App Designed to Monitor and Record Angular Movement over Time. Bittel, AJ., Elazzazi, A., Bittel, DC.[2017]

A systematic review of 773 studies involving over 38,000 participants found that exercise therapy does not increase the risk of serious adverse events, indicating it is a safe intervention.

However, exercise therapy was associated with a higher risk of non-serious adverse events, with a relative risk of 1.19, meaning that for every 6 participants, one additional non-serious adverse event may occur.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events of exercise therapy in randomised controlled trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Niemeijer, A., Lund, H., Stafne, SN., et al.[2022]

A study involving 78 hospitalized patients showed that using the Hospital Fit app alongside usual physiotherapy led to a trend of increased physical activity, particularly in standing and walking, although the results were not statistically significant.

Patients who used the app for longer periods experienced greater increases in physical activity, suggesting that the app may be beneficial for functionally independent patients in promoting movement during hospitalization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of a Smartphone App with an Accelerometer on the Physical Activity Behavior of Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Dijk-Huisman, HCV., Senden, R., Smeets, MHH., et al.[2023]

Participants with chronic health conditions expressed that adverse events (AEs) from resistance training (RT) significantly impact their willingness to engage in future exercise, highlighting the importance of understanding both the risks and benefits of RT.

The study identified that personal experiences, health conditions, and the environment in which RT occurs influence perceptions of safety and participation, suggesting that better communication about the risks of AEs is essential to encourage RT among individuals with chronic health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring participants' perspectives on adverse events due to resistance training: a qualitative study. El-Kotob, R., Pagcanlungan, JR., Craven, BC., et al.[2023]

Researchers in resistance training studies often lack clear guidance and motivation for thorough adverse event (AE) reporting, which can lead to inconsistent practices.

There is a need for exercise-specific guidelines for AE reporting, as current standards are perceived as not applicable to exercise trials, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies to improve reporting consistency.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Researchers' perspectives on adverse event reporting in resistance training trials: a qualitative study. El-Kotob, R., Pagcanlungan, JR., Craven, BC., et al.[2022]

A mobile video-guided home exercise program significantly improved exercise adherence (75.6% vs. 55.2%) and self-efficacy for exercise compared to a standard paper-based program in stroke recovery patients over three months.

Participants using the video-guided program also showed greater improvements in mobility levels (MFAC gain of 1.7 vs. 1.0) but did not demonstrate significant differences in basic activities of daily living (ADL) compared to the control group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot study on comparisons between the effectiveness of mobile video-guided and paper-based home exercise programs on improving exercise adherence, self-efficacy for exercise and functional outcomes of patients with stroke with 3-month follow-up: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. Chung, BPH., Chiang, WKH., Lau, H., et al.[2022]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11094610/

Effectiveness of mHealth App–Based Interventions for ...

Our meta-analysis suggests that mHealth app–based interventions may yield small-to-large beneficial effects on TPA, SB, BMI, agility, and muscle strength in ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8122296/

Long-term Effectiveness of mHealth Physical Activity ...

Overall, mHealth interventions significantly increased PA across all 4 outcome measures at the end of intervention: walking SMD 0.46 (95% CI 0.36-0.55; P<.001; ...

3.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1661028/full

a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects ...

This study revealed that the mHealth intervention had a significant effect in elevating PA and MVPA levels in older adults and was effective in ...

4.

jacc.org

jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.030

Mobile Health Advances in Physical Activity, Fitness, and ...

In this review, the authors provide an update on cardiovascular mHealth by highlighting recent progress and challenges with mobile and wearable devices.

5.

bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com

bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-025-12489-z

Mobile applications, physical activity, and health promotion

This paper studies the role of mobile applications in promoting physical activity and user loyalty to them.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11892298/

Mobile applications, physical activity, and health promotion

This paper studies the role of mobile applications in promoting physical activity and user loyalty to them.

7.

formative.jmir.org

formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e52428

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile Health Exercise ...

Objective: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an mHealth exercise intervention delivered in combination with ...

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772963X23005768

Mobile Health Fitness Interventions: Impact of Features on ...

Most people were women (62%), the median age was 28 years (range: 18-78 years), and most people reported current use of an mHealth fitness application (48%).