Physical Activity for Chronic Kidney Disease

(PACKD Trial)

Overseen By Amy Kogon, MD MPH

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Non-ambulatory, High physical activity, Heart disease, Lung disease, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

100 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests how a 12-week exercise program can help teens with chronic kidney disease (CKD) become more active. Participants will try various exercise plans, which may include step goals, feedback, and financial incentives to determine the most effective method for increasing physical activity. Teens aged 13-18 with CKD who aren't on dialysis and can walk are suitable candidates for this study. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for teens to explore personalized exercise plans that could enhance their health and well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this physical activity intervention is safe for adolescents with chronic kidney disease?

Past studies have shown that physical activity and exercise are safe for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Research indicates that when done carefully, exercise is well-tolerated by those with CKD. No major reports of harmful effects have emerged when exercise increases gradually. In fact, exercise can offer many benefits, such as slowing the disease and improving overall health. This suggests that the physical activity in this trial is likely safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to boost physical activity in people with chronic kidney disease. Unlike standard care, which might focus on medication or dietary changes, this trial investigates personalized exercise plans with step goals, financial incentives, and feedback. These elements aim to motivate participants and enhance their engagement in physical activity, potentially leading to better health outcomes. By testing various combinations, the trial seeks to determine the most effective strategy to improve physical activity participation in this population.

What evidence suggests that this trial's physical activity interventions could be effective for chronic kidney disease?

Research has shown that regular exercise greatly benefits people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Studies have found that staying active can slow the progression of CKD and enhance overall quality of life. For instance, high-intensity interval training significantly reduces the risk of rapid kidney deterioration. Exercise also addresses other health issues often associated with CKD, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. This trial will explore various physical activity interventions, including personalized plans with step goals, financial incentives, and feedback, to assess their effectiveness in increasing physical activity participation among individuals with CKD. Overall, staying active can significantly impact those managing CKD. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Amy Kogon, MD MPH

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) stages II-V who are not on dialysis or haven't had a transplant. Participants must understand English and have parental/guardian consent, plus child assent if needed.

Inclusion Criteria

I am proficient in English.

I have my parent's or guardian's permission, and I agree to participate if I'm a child.

I am the parent or legal guardian of a teenager in this study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 12-week physical activity intervention to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity by 15 min/day

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity and other health measures 3 months after the intervention

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Physical Activity Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of a 12-week program designed to increase physical activity among young people with CKD. A total of 64 participants will be involved in this intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ramped step goals with feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if ramped step goals and/or daily feedback improve physical activity participation.

Group II: Ramped step goal with financial incentive and feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if ramped step goals and/or financial incentive and/or daily feedback improve physical activity participation.

Group III: Ramped step goal with financial incentive Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if ramped step goals and/or financial incentive improve physical activity participation.

Group IV: Ramped Step goals Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if ramped step goals improve physical activity participation.

Group V: Personalized plan with ramped step goal and financial incentive and feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal and/or financial incentive and/or daily feedback improves physical activity participation.

Group VI: Personalized plan with ramped step goal and financial incentive Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal and/or financial incentive improves physical activity participation.

Group VII: Personalized plan with ramped step goal and feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal and/or daily feedback improves physical activity participation.

Group VIII: Personalized plan with ramped step goal Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal improves physical activity participation.

Group IX: Personalized plan with fixed step goal and financial incentive and feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal and/or financial incentive and/or daily feedback improves physical activity participation.

Group X: Personalized plan with fixed step goal and financial incentive Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal and/or financial incentive improves physical activity participation.

Group XI: Personalized plan with fixed step goal and feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal and/or daily feedback improves physical activity participation.

Group XII: Personalized plan with fixed step goal Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if personalized exercise plan and/or fixed step goal improves physical activity participation.

Group XIII: Fixed step goal with financial incentives Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if fixed step goals and/or financial incentives improve physical activity participation.

Group XIV: Fixed step goal with financial incentive and feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if fixed step goals and/or financial incentives and/or daily feedback improve physical activity participation.

Group XV: Fixed step goal with feedback Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if fixed step goals and/or daily feed back improve physical activity participation.

Group XVI: Fixed step goal only Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This intervention designed to test if fixed step goals improve physical activity participation.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

749

Recruited

11,400,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11743718/

The impact of different exercise modalities on chronic kidney ... This study sought to summarize the effects of different exercise modalities on the main outcomes impacted by CKD.

2. kireports.org kireports.org/article/S2468-0249(24)01862-X/fulltext

Review of Exercise Interventions to Improve Clinical ... The potential benefits of exercise training in CKD range from slowing disease progression to improving comorbidities and quality of life.

3. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/jasn/fulltext/2025/07000/long_term_physical_exercise_for_preventing_ckd_in.13.aspx

Long-Term Physical Exercise for Preventing CKD in Older... This randomized clinical trial found that high-intensity interval training significantly reduced the risk of rapid eGFR decline in older adults. Physical ...

4. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40620-024-02049-9

Physical activity and exercise in chronic kidney disease Overall, the statements affirm that regular physical activity and exercise training offer numerous benefits to CKD patients, including improved ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246802492401862X

Review of Exercise Interventions to Improve Clinical ... The potential benefits of exercise training in CKD range from slowing disease progression to improving comorbidities and quality of life.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11519309/

Physical activity and exercise in chronic kidney disease Moreover, when physical activity and exercise training are implemented with appropriate precautions, they are safe in CKD patients. Gradual physical activity ...

7. bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-021-02618-1

Clinical practice guideline exercise and lifestyle in chronic ... Improving physical activity levels in line with current recommendations leads to reduced risk of the development of diabetes, stroke and some ...

8. clinmedjournals.org clinmedjournals.org/articles/jcnrc/journal-of-clinical-nephrology-and-renal-care-jcnrc-3-021.php?jid=jcnrc

The Effect of Chronic Kidney Disease on a Physical Activity ... The results from this exploratory study suggest that physical activity is likely safe and beneficial for older adults with CKD. This occurred despite lower ...