Motivating Activity Through Text Communications - Helping Adults Increase Movement

This study is looking at how different motivational text messages can help adults aged 40 and older increase their physical activity. Researchers want to see which types of messages are most effective at increasing daily step counts over a 3-month period. They are also studying how these personalized messages affect things like habits, self-perception, and thinking skills. You can join if you are 40 or older, have a smartphone, speak English, and can do moderate physical activity. The main goal is to see if these text messages can help people move more.

Study design: This interventional study plans to enroll 150 participants. It is designed to compare the effects of different text message types on physical activity.
What's involved: You would receive up to 4 motivational text messages daily for 3 months. You will also wear a device on your thigh for 7 days at the start, after 3 months, and again 3 months after the intervention ends, for a total of 6 months.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Your daily step count will be measured again 3 months after the text messaging intervention is complete.

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Motivating Activity Through Text Communications - Helping Adults Increase Movement

Recruiting

NAAges 40+Interventional

University of Michigan

~150 participants

Updated 2026-07-31 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Text Messaging Intervention

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Daily Step Count

Measured over The activPAL is worn on the thigh for a 7-day assessment period before the intervention begins (baseline), after 3 months of intervention, and then again 3 months after the intervention is complete. The total time frame is 6 months.

Conditions

Physical Inactivity

Aging

Cognitive Ability

Behavior Change

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Michigan1

Study leadership

David E Conroy, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Michigan

Who to contact

Ann M Mehringer

[email protected]

734-647-6050

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Be 40 years of age or older

Own a smartphone running an Android or iOS operating system

Have proficiency with the English language

Be capable of providing informed consent

Be able to perform moderate physical activity without restrictions

Be willing to complete the entire 6-month protocol

Be willing to establish a 12-hour window - beginning no later than 9:45 am and ending no later than 9:45 pm - for receiving text messages.

Exclusion

Residing outside of the continental United States

Self-reporting 90 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week

contraindications to normal physical activity as identified on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Mobility restrictions that interfere with unassisted physical activity

Being pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study

Planning to undergo surgery during the course of the study protocol

Having a prior diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia

Evidence of mild cognitive impairment as indicated by a mini-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test score of 12 or higher

Concurrent participation in another study involving weight loss or physical activity

Failure to respond to at least 85% of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) prompts during the 7-day qualification phase.

What this trial measures

Daily Step CountThe activPAL is worn on the thigh for a 7-day assessment period before the intervention begins (baseline), after 3 months of intervention, and then again 3 months after the intervention is complete. The total time frame is 6 months.
The primary outcome measure is the average daily step count, which is assessed using a blinded, research-grade activPAL activity monitor, worn on the thigh for a 7-day assessment period.

Trialytics