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Activating SilverSneakers Benefits for Seniors With Osteoarthritis

This study is for older adults aged 65 and above who have osteoarthritis (a common joint condition causing pain and stiffness) and are not physically active. It aims to see if a special "Proactive Care" program can help more people use their SilverSneakers exercise benefits, which are often included with Medicare Advantage plans. The Proactive Care involves mailed materials and two phone calls. Researchers want to find out if this approach can improve your physical, social, and mental well-being, and potentially reduce healthcare costs related to osteoarthritis. About 1,454 people across the United States will participate, and the study will track outcomes over two years.

Study design
This is an interventional study comparing a "Proactive Care" program to "Usual Care" for about 1,454 participants. It is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.
What's involved
Participants will receive mailed materials and two phone calls as part of the Proactive Care intervention. Key outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for two years after the intervention, with assessments at 6, 12, and 24 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06782347

Activating SilverSneakers Benefits for Seniors With Osteoarthritis

Recruiting
NAAges 65+InterventionalHealth services
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
~1,454 participants
Updated 2026-02-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Proactive Care

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Physical Function (subscale)
Measured over Administered at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up; reported score for the primary outcome is the change between baseline and 24-month follow-up.
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Osteoarthritis
Physical Inactivity

Explore related trials

Osteoarthritis

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Study leadership

  • Liza S. Rovniak, PhD, MPH · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Penn State College of Medicine

Who to contact

Liza S. Rovniak, PhD, MPH
[email protected]
717-531-8161
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Aged 65 and older.
ICD-9 or ICD-10 code for hip, knee, or general osteoarthritis.
Positive response to a standardized question from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey that asks if patient was diagnosed with osteoarthritis/arthritis and self-report confirmation of hip and/or knee pain due to their osteoarthritis/arthritis.
Continuous enrollment for at least one year in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan which provides free SilverSneakers access and both medical and prescription drug coverage.
Not currently or previously enrolled in SilverSneakers.
Speak English or Spanish.
Physical/mental capacity to provide informed consent, based on not having an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code for dementia and being able to answer three questions to verify comprehension of the informed consent form.

Exclusion

Another person in the same household is enrolling/enrolled in the study (to prevent treatment contamination, only one participant per household can participate).
Medicare/Medicaid dual enrollment due to limited data accessibility for this group.
Receiving hospice care or under long-term institutional care (Part C) due to limited data accessibility for this group.
Receiving care from a provider credentialed through a delegated arrangement (i.e., delegated provider), due to limited data accessibility for this group.
Lack of a valid mailing address in the Humana medical claims databases.

What this trial measures

  • Physical Function (subscale)Administered at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up; reported score for the primary outcome is the change between baseline and 24-month follow-up.

    This measure is a subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC); items measure ability to perform activities of daily living. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from None (0) to Extreme (4). The scores are summed, with a possible score range of 0 to 68 for the Physical Function subscale. Higher scores indicate worse functional limitations.

  • SilverSneakers ActivationObtained from Humana health claims databases at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up; the number of participants who enrolled in SilverSneakers and used the benefit is calculated as a cumulative total across all assessment points.

    Number of participants who enrolled in SilverSneakers and used their SilverSneakers benefit at least one time.

  • SilverSneakers Long-Term Participation RateObtained from Humana health claims databases at 12- and 24-month follow-up; primary outcome measured at 24-month follow-up.

    Of those participants who enrolled in SilverSneakers and used their SilverSneakers benefit at least once, the number who are still using their SilverSneakers benefit ≥1 time/month at 24-month follow-up.