RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Make Every Step Count: Personalised Music Feedback to Walking for People Living With COPD

This study is testing a new smartphone app called BeatClearWalker (BCW). It's designed for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who are doing walking exercises as part of their pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation helps manage the effects of COPD and involves regular exercise, often walking. Sticking to these walking exercises, especially at home, can be tricky. The BCW app uses music that changes with your walking pace to give you real-time feedback. The aim is to see if this app is easy to use, helpful, and if it encourages people to stick to their prescribed walking intensity, ultimately improving their health and wellbeing.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Leicester

Enrolment target

Start

20 Apr 2025

Estimated completion

26 Sep 2025

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease

What is this study about?

If you live with a lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you might know about pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a special programme that helps you manage your symptoms, feel better, and improve your quality of life. A big part of this programme involves exercise, and often, that means walking. It's really important to walk at a certain pace that's right for you to get the most benefit. However, we know it can be hard to stick to this pace, especially when you're exercising by yourself at home.

This study is exploring a new idea to help with this. It's testing a new smartphone app called 'BeatClearWalker'. This app uses music to guide your walking. Imagine listening to music while you walk, and the music subtly changes to let you know if you're walking at the right speed. The app is personal to you and designed to give you instant feedback. The main goal is to find out if this app is practical, if people like using it, and if it actually helps people with COPD keep to their recommended walking pace.

We already know that listening to music can make exercise feel less tiring and more motivating. It can also help reduce feelings of breathlessness and fatigue in people with COPD. By using music in this new way, through the BeatClearWalker app, researchers hope to make exercising easier and more enjoyable for people with COPD, helping them get the most out of their pulmonary rehabilitation program and improve their overall health.

Key takeaways

This study explores a new app using music to help people with COPD exercise.
The app aims to make walking exercises easier and more effective.
It provides personalised music feedback linked to your walking pace.
The goal is to improve how well people stick to their exercise plans.
Successful results could lead to new ways to support COPD management.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or older, and have a confirmed diagnosis of COPD. You also need to be able to understand and speak English well enough to follow instructions and complete questionnaires. You must currently be attending a pulmonary rehabilitation programme at Leicester's Hospitals (UHL) and be willing to give your informed consent to take part.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to join. These include if you've had a heart problem in the last six weeks, have certain serious mental health conditions, or if you've recently had positive tests for MRSA (a type of infection). If you're not motivated to take part in your pulmonary rehabilitation programme, or if your doctor advises against exercise for any reason, you wouldn't be able to participate. You also wouldn't be eligible if you're unable to provide valid consent or understand written or spoken English.

Quick self-check

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have a diagnosis of COPD?
Are you currently attending pulmonary rehabilitation at Leicester's Hospitals (UHL)?
Can you understand and speak English clearly?
Have you *not* had a heart event in the last 6 weeks?
Are you motivated to take part in your pulmonary rehabilitation programme?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

The study aims to see if a new smartphone app called BeatClearWalker (BCW) is useful for people with COPD doing walking exercises. More detailed information about what is involved will be provided by the study team, but generally, it would involve using the app during your prescribed walking exercises. This would likely mean downloading the app to your own smartphone and using it as instructed. There would also be assessments to check how practical and helpful the app is for you.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer you some potential benefits, such as a new tool to help you stay motivated and stick to your walking exercises, which could improve your breathing and overall wellbeing. Listening to music during exercise might also make your workouts feel less tiring and more enjoyable. As with any exercise, there's always a very small risk of feeling tired or breathless, but the exercises will be tailored to your health. The study team will explain any other potential risks to you. Remember, taking part is completely voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (2)

NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre - Respiratory
Leicester, United Kingdom· Not yet recruiting
University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL)
Leicester, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is COPD?

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It's a common lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe.

What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

It's a special programme of exercise and education designed to help people with lung conditions like COPD manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

What is the BeatClearWalker app?

It's a new smartphone app that uses music to help people with COPD keep to the right walking pace during their exercises.

Will I have to pay for the app?

No, the app is being provided for the study to see if it's helpful for people with COPD.

Can anyone with COPD join this study?

No, there are specific requirements for joining, such as being over 18, having a confirmed COPD diagnosis, and attending pulmonary rehabilitation at Leicester's Hospitals.

How to find out more

Omar Alhothaly, MSc

oaea3@leicester.ac.uk +441162502758 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.