Limitation, MobilityNCT05978336
SuPA Mobility: Supporting Physical Activity for Mobility in Mobility-Limited Older Adults
A study testing Health Coaching Program and Health Education Program in people with Limitation, Mobility and Older Adults, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a health-coaching intervention to improve physical activity in older adults with limited mobility when compared to a control, health education group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 70 to 89 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Limitation, Mobility, Older Adults
- What is being tested?
- Health Coaching Program and Health Education Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 290 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 5 Sep 2023to 30 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 70 to 89 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- scored ≤ 9/12 on the SPPB
- are able to complete the 400-m walk in ≤ 15 minutes without sitting or physical assistance from another person or walker (use of cane is acceptable)
- scored 22/30 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- have no significant functional impairment as indicated by a score of 6/8 or higher on the Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
- are able to safely engage in MVPA as indicated by the PAR-Q+ and by the family or study physician as necessary
- are community-dwelling
- are able to provide written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- are diagnosed with dementia or stroke
- self-report engaging in MVPA ≥ 10 minutes per week in the prior 3 months
- are unable to understand, speak, and read English proficiently
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Research Pavilion
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1L8
Nathan Wei, B.SC, 604-875-4111 ext. 69056, cogmob.research@hiphealth.ca
Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Ph.D
About this study
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a health-coaching intervention to improve physical activity in older adults with limited mobility when compared to a control, health education group.
Read the detailed description
A total of 290 older adults with limited mobility will be randomized to either a 26-week health coaching program or health education program. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks (end of intervention), and 52 week (6-month follow-up period).
- Conditions
- Limitation, Mobility, Older Adults
- Being tested
- Health Coaching Program, Health Education Program
- Keywords
- physical activity, health coaching, exercise, limited mobility
- Medical subject headings
- Mobility Limitation, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Health Coaching ProgramBehavioural
Also called HC
The HC program will be delivered over 26-weeks. Participants will have an initial hour-long HC session where the BAP coach will conduct a brief physical assessment and work with the participant to establish their physical activity goals and develop a plan. After the initial consult, coaches will conduct 8 x 20-minute phone calls with participants over the 26-week trial decreasing from bi-weekly phone calls in weeks 1-12 to monthly phone calls in weeks 13-26.
Participants in the HC group will have an overall goal of increasing their weekly participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity by 50 minutes, via 5-, 7-, or 10-minute bouts of progressive exercises, at a rate of perceived exertion range of 13-14 ("somewhat hard") by week 16. Participants will have access to specific exercise sessions made available by YouTube and/or hardcopy manuals created by the research team.
Health Education ProgramBehavioural
Also called ED
Participants will begin with a one-hour, group-based, interactive education session on falls prevention delivered either in-person or by Zoom. Following the initial education session, ED participants will receive additional group education sessions (in-person or by Zoom) with the same duration and schedule as the HC program covering a variety of healthy aging topics.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Health Coaching (HC) | Experimental | The health coaching program will be delivered by trained and certified kinesiologists utilizing Brief Action Planning (BAP) principals. The BAP behavior change approach utilizes the following 4 techniques: 1) goal-setting; 2 )action planning; 3) self-monitoring; and 4) feedback. Participants will utilize daily physical activity diaries to enable self-monitoring, and BAP coaches will provide feedback on progress toward individualized physical activity goals. Receives: Behavioral: Health Coaching Program |
| Health Education Program (ED) | Active comparator | This program is an attention control group, which consists of general health education. Education sessions will be delivered either by zoom or in person. The education sessions will cover the following topics: 1) falls prevention; 2) sleep; 3) healthy eating; 4) cognitive health; and 5) mental and emotional health. Receives: Behavioral: Health Education Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mobility
Measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Secondary outcomes (16)
Physical activity
Time spent moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time measured by accelerometer.
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Self reported physical activity
Measured by the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults.
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Gait speed
Measured during the 4-m walk
Measured: Baseline, 13- weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Capacity to complete the 400-m walk in ≤ 15 minutes
measured as yes or no
Measured: Baseline, 13- weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Cognitive function
Measured with the NIH Toolbox and standard neuropsychological assessments
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Community mobility
Measured with the Life Space Questionnaire
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Functional mobility
Measured as the time to complete the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG)
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Fatigue
Measured by the 9-item Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scored from 9 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe fatigue
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Lower extremity strength
Measured with strain gauge (kilograms) on dominant quadriceps
Measured: Baseline, 13- weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Grip strength
Measured with digital Jamar isometric dynamometer (Newtons)
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Mood
Measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Health-related quality of life
Measured with questionnaire EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L)
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Sleep
Measured with 19-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Sleep
Measured by accelerometer
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Falls
Assessed with monthly calendar and questionnaire
Measured: Baseline, monthly
Health resource utilization
Assessed with a questionnaire
Measured: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Aug 2023
- Study start5 Sep 2023
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Limitation, MobilityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 290 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, University of British Columbia
- Investigators
- Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD, Principal investigator, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05978336
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H21-00858
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Jul 2023
- Last updated
- 4 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Rice J, Li LC, Davis JC, Pahor M, Madden K, Wei N, Wong H, Skelton DA, McCormick S, Falck RS, Barha CK, Rhodes RE, Loomba S, Sadatsafavi M, Liu-Ambrose T. Supporting physical activity for mobility in older adults with mobility limitations (SuPA Mobility): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2023 Nov 28;24(1):769. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07798-9.
PubMed 38017467
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- SuPA Mobility: Supporting Physical Activity for Mobility in Mobility-Limited Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05978336
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H21-00858
- Conditions
- Limitation, Mobility, Older Adults
- Keywords
- physical activity, health coaching, exercise, limited mobility
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 290 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Study start
- 5 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a health-coaching intervention to improve physical activity in older adults with limited mobility when compared to a control, health education group.
Detailed description
A total of 290 older adults with limited mobility will be randomized to either a 26-week health coaching program or health education program. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks (end of intervention), and 52 week (6-month follow-up period).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Health Coaching (HC) | Experimental | Behavioral: Health Coaching ProgramThe health coaching program will be delivered by trained and certified kinesiologists utilizing Brief Action Planning (BAP) principals. The BAP behavior change approach utilizes the following 4 techniques: 1) goal-setting; 2 )action planning; 3) self-monitoring; and 4) feedback. Participants will utilize daily physical activity diaries to enable self-monitoring, and BAP coaches will provide feedback on progress toward individualized physical activity goals. |
| Health Education Program (ED) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Health Education ProgramThis program is an attention control group, which consists of general health education. Education sessions will be delivered either by zoom or in person. The education sessions will cover the following topics: 1) falls prevention; 2) sleep; 3) healthy eating; 4) cognitive health; and 5) mental and emotional health. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 70 to 89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- scored ≤ 9/12 on the SPPB
- are able to complete the 400-m walk in ≤ 15 minutes without sitting or physical assistance from another person or walker (use of cane is acceptable)
- scored 22/30 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- have no significant functional impairment as indicated by a score of 6/8 or higher on the Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
- are able to safely engage in MVPA as indicated by the PAR-Q+ and by the family or study physician as necessary
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- are diagnosed with dementia or stroke
- self-report engaging in MVPA ≥ 10 minutes per week in the prior 3 months
- are unable to understand, speak, and read English proficiently
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Health Coaching ProgramAlso: HCThe HC program will be delivered over 26-weeks. Participants will have an initial hour-long HC session where the BAP coach will conduct a brief physical assessment and work with the participant to establish their physical activity goals and develop a plan. After the initial consult, coaches will conduct 8 x 20-minute phone calls with participants over the 26-week trial decreasing from bi-weekly phone calls in weeks 1-12 to monthly phone calls in weeks 13-26. Participants in the HC group will have an overall goal of increasing their weekly participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity by 50 minutes, via 5-, 7-, or 10-minute bouts of progressive exercises, at a rate of perceived exertion range of 13-14 ("somewhat hard") by week 16. Participants will have access to specific exercise sessions made available by YouTube and/or hardcopy manuals created by the research team. | Behavioural | Health Coaching (HC) |
| Health Education ProgramAlso: EDParticipants will begin with a one-hour, group-based, interactive education session on falls prevention delivered either in-person or by Zoom. Following the initial education session, ED participants will receive additional group education sessions (in-person or by Zoom) with the same duration and schedule as the HC program covering a variety of healthy aging topics. | Behavioural | Health Education Program (ED) |
Primary outcome
Mobility
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
16 secondary outcomes
Physical activity
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Self reported physical activity
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Gait speed
Time frame: Baseline, 13- weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Capacity to complete the 400-m walk in ≤ 15 minutes
Time frame: Baseline, 13- weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Cognitive function
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Community mobility
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Functional mobility
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Fatigue
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Lower extremity strength
Time frame: Baseline, 13- weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Grip strength
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Mood
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Health-related quality of life
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Sleep
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Sleep
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks
Falls
Time frame: Baseline, monthly
Health resource utilization
Time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 39-weeks, 52-weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Sep 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38017467Rice J, Li LC, Davis JC, Pahor M, Madden K, Wei N, Wong H, Skelton DA, McCormick S, Falck RS, Barha CK, Rhodes RE, Loomba S, Sadatsafavi M, Liu-Ambrose T. Supporting physical activity for mobility in older adults with mobility limitations (SuPA Mobility): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2023 Nov 28;24(1):769. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07798-9.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD principal investigator
University of British Columbia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Health Coaching Program and Health Education Program in people with Limitation, Mobility and Older Adults, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nathan Wei, B.Sc. (604-875-4111 ext. 69056, nathan.wei@ubc.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mobility (time frame: Baseline, 13-weeks, 26-weeks, 52-weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05978336, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Sep 2026.