Church-Based Physical Activity Program for Physical Function Limitations

Overseen By Elizabeth M Lynch, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Severe cognitive impairment, Psychiatric treatment, Heart failure, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

360 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a church-based program designed to help people with mobility issues become more physically active over 12 months. It compares two approaches: "Keep it Movin'," which involves group activities, and "Go 4 Life Self Guided Education," where participants learn independently. The trial suits individuals aged 40 or older who have trouble moving but can still walk and rise from a chair without assistance. Participants should attend a church in certain counties and be able to safely begin exercising. The goal is to improve physical function and make everyday movement easier. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research that could enhance mobility programs for many others.

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 is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that physical activity programs like "Keep it Movin'" are generally safe and beneficial for older adults. Studies have found that regular exercise can lower the risk of long-term illnesses and improve quality of life. The available research reports no serious problems related to these programs.

While specific studies on "Go 4 Life Self Guided Education" are not mentioned, the program's focus on physical activity suggests it poses minimal safety risks. Exercise programs are typically safe because they promote movement, a natural and generally safe activity for most people.

Both programs aim to increase physical activity, which is known to be safe and helpful for improving physical function, especially in older adults. Always consult a healthcare provider if unsure about starting a new exercise program. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Church-Based Physical Activity Program because it introduces innovative approaches like "Keep it Movin'" and "Go 4 Life Self Guided Education" to address physical function limitations. Unlike traditional physical therapy or medication that often require clinical settings or professional supervision, these programs empower individuals to take charge of their health through accessible, community-based activities. "Keep it Movin'" emphasizes group dynamics and social support to motivate consistent physical activity, while "Go 4 Life" offers flexible, self-paced education, making it easier for participants to integrate into their daily lives. This trial aims to explore how these community-focused strategies can improve mobility and overall physical health, potentially offering more convenient and engaging alternatives to existing treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving physical function limitations?

Research has shown that exercise programs can help people with physical limitations improve their abilities. In this trial, participants will join one of two programs. The "Keep it Movin'" program, one of the study arms, takes place in churches, making it accessible for middle-aged and older adults. Studies have found that programs like this can prevent the decline of physical abilities over time. Participants often report increased daily activity and a greater sense of community involvement. Thus, "Keep it Movin'" might help individuals maintain or enhance their physical abilities. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African American adults aged 40 or older with mobility limitations and at least two chronic conditions like heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes. They must be able to walk unassisted, speak and read English, attend a participating church in certain Illinois counties, and be safe to start exercising.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants (Individual-level): Age 40 or older, Have mobility limitations (defined as SPPB score of ≤9), Have ≥ 2 of the following conditions: heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, or BMI ≥ 30, Ambulatory, defined as able to get out of a chair and walk without assistance without using a straight cane, Able to speak and read English, Attend recruitment church, Safe to begin an exercise program, which will be determined using the Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY) Tool.

Churches (Community-level): Membership of 300 or more adults, Predominantly African American congregants, Located in Cook, Lake, Dupage, Will, McHenry, Kane, or Kendall counties

Exclusion Criteria

Participants (Individual-level): Severe cognitive impairment, defined as five or more errors on the Short-Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Unable to consistently attend group classes at a scheduled time due to lack of reliable transportation, schedule conflicts, travel, plans to relocate, upcoming surgery, etc., Participating in a medically supervised rehabilitation program such as cardiac rehab, Inpatient treatment for a psychiatric condition within the past 6 months, or currently receiving treatment for schizophrenia or other serious psychiatric illness, Contraindications to exercise determined using the EASY/healthcare follow-up, Congestive heart failure New York Health Association (NYHA) Class I or higher; unstable angina; heart attack or stroke within past 6 months, Visual or hearing impairment.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in a church-based intervention to improve physical function

12 months

Regular church-based sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical function, physical activity, social support, self-efficacy, and quality of life

12 months

Measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Go 4 Life Self Guided Education
• Keep it Movin'

Trial Overview The study tests a church-based program called 'Keep it Movin'' against a self-guided education program 'Go 4 Life' over 12 months. It aims to see which one better improves physical function in participants with existing health issues.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Keep it Movin' Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Go 4 Life Self Guided Education Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Rush University Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

448

Recruited

247,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Healthcare providers should actively promote physical activity among frail older adults, emphasizing that any level of activity is better than being sedentary.

Counseling should be personalized to each patient's health status and include ongoing discussions about 'functional fitness' to help older adults perform daily tasks more easily.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prescribing physical activity for older adults. Ross, KM., Teasdale, TA.[2018]

Physical activity interventions delivered in faith-based organizations can effectively increase physical activity levels and improve health and fitness measures among participants, as shown in a review of 18 studies predominantly involving female participants in the U.S.

Despite the positive outcomes, the overall quality of the evidence was very low, highlighting the need for more rigorous randomized clinical trials to better evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity Interventions in Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review. Tristão Parra, M., Porfírio, GJM., Arredondo, EM., et al.[2019]

The Strong for Life exercise program was successfully implemented with 105 frail, homebound older adults, showing high satisfaction rates of 100% among volunteers and 98.6% among participants after 4 months.

Participants engaged in exercise an average of 2.2 times per week, with over half exercising 2 to 4 times weekly, leading to significant improvements in social functioning without any serious adverse events reported.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of implementing the Strong for Life program in community settings. Etkin, CD., Prohaska, TR., Harris, BA., et al.[2019]

A multidimensional physical activity program that includes endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility training is essential for older adults, especially those with chronic diseases, to improve health and functional abilities.

Implementing behavior change principles, such as social support and gradual intensity increase, enhances adherence to physical activity, making it safer and more effective for older adults to maintain independence and quality of life.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity programs and behavior counseling in older adult populations. [2019]

Churches that implemented a behavior change class saw significant increases in the percentage of participants meeting physical activity recommendations, highlighting the effectiveness of structured programs in promoting health.

Despite some church leaders discussing physical activity and diet, many did not actively participate in the programs, and changes in church leadership did not significantly impact physical activity outcomes, suggesting that consistent leadership support may be crucial for program success.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of a faith-based physical activity intervention: insights from church health directors. Baruth, M., Wilcox, S., Laken, M., et al.[2021]

An 8-week, no-cost Internet-based intervention aimed at increasing physical activity was successfully piloted in an African American church, leading to increased activity levels and reduced sitting time.

This approach highlights the potential of using culturally relevant settings, like churches, to promote health behavior changes in minority populations, addressing the public health issue of physical inactivity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

USING THE Internet TO INCREASE Physical Activity IN A FAITH COMMUNITY. Washington, E., Weed, LD., Vardaman, SA.[2022]

Over 60% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, which increases their risk for chronic diseases, highlighting the urgent need for effective weight management strategies.

Brief physician interventions (3-5 minutes) discussing the benefits of physical activity can significantly encourage overweight patients to adopt healthier lifestyles, emphasizing the importance of regular exercise for weight loss and overall health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Counseling for physical activity in overweight and obese patients. McInnis, KJ., Franklin, BA., Rippe, JM.[2007]

The ALLFIT program, which combines individual coaching, fitness training, and self-management courses, effectively empowers elderly individuals with chronic diseases, as demonstrated by 99% of participants setting personal goals.

Among the first 100 participants, 21% improved their walking ability and 25% enhanced their stair-climbing skills, highlighting the program's positive impact on physical fitness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Can empowerment of elderly with chronic disease be achieved in Switzerland? First results of the ALLFIT program in Zurich]. Wettstein, A., Baldegger, E., Weber, M., et al.[2008]

The Faithfully Fit Forever (FFF) program, developed in 2000 by MeritCare Health System, is a holistic wellness initiative designed for older adults, integrating physical exercise, health education, and spiritual support within a faith community.

Led by laypeople, including parish nurses, the program emphasizes the importance of social support in promoting health and managing chronic conditions, making it an effective model for community-based health promotion.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Faithfully fit forever: a holistic exercise and wellness program for faith communities. White, JA., Drechsel, J., Johnson, J.[2006]

The pilot faith-based physical activity intervention significantly increased awareness of health benefits and knowledge of physical activity recommendations among Latino participants, with 66% of intervention participants citing health reasons for participation compared to only 36% in the comparison group.

The study highlighted both successes and challenges in implementation, indicating that while the intervention was effective in improving knowledge, there were communication issues and difficulties in reaching a broader audience within the church community.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A faith-based physical activity intervention for Latinos: outcomes and lessons. Bopp, M., Fallon, EA., Marquez, DX.[2021]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1551714424003252

Keep it Movin': Design and methods of a church-based ... PF limitations are associated with poor outcomes including falls, dementia, nursing home admission, increased healthcare costs, and death [[4], [5], [6], [7], [ ...

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/385797877_Keep_it_Movin'_Design_and_methods_of_a_church-based_physical_activity_program_to_improve_physical_function_among_midlife_and_older_black_adults

Design and methods of a church-based physical activity ... Keep it Movin': Design and methods of a church-based physical activity program to improve physical function among midlife and older black adults.

3. journals.humankinetics.com journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/18/10/article-p1236.xml

Do Older Adults Maintain Benefits From Choose to Move ... Choose to Move (CTM) is a scalable, 6-month PA intervention targeting low physically active (<150 min/wk) older adults. CTM is being scaled up ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/370496003_You_Just_Have_to_Keep_It_Movin'_Perceptions_of_Physical_Function_Limitations_in_an_African_American_Health_Ministry

Perceptions of Physical Function Limitations in an African ... Participants described how PF limitations affected their ability to live a full life and play an active role in their family, church, and community. Faith and ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8967718/

Effect of a physical activity and behaviour maintenance ... The REACT trial showed that a 12-month physical activity and behavioral program could help prevent decline in physical function over 24 months ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12183869/

Enablers and barriers to physical activity among older adults ... The health benefits of physical activity are well documented, with decreased risk of numerous chronic diseases and premature mortality ...