ComeBACK Study

The University of Sydney is seeking for volunteers for a large research study that supports people in becoming more physically active to improve their walking. [This study has CLOSED].

Health education and promotion

This study is now closed. Please refer to our Research Studies page to view our ongoing studies.

Do you feel you are not as active as you used to be due to the COVID-19 pandemic? With Spring now here and restrictions easing, it’s a great time to get back into your activity and enjoy the warmer weather.

The ComeBACK Trial at the University of Sydney is currently looking for volunteers to receive a free coaching and exercise program, tailored to your needs, to help improve your walking.

Study Purpose/Description

Exercise is the single most important thing you can do to improve your ability to walk and carry out other daily activities. Becoming more active has many benefits such as:

Improving your ability and confidence in moving
Helping you to be steadier on your feet
Making it easier to get out and about in the community
Improving your mood, energy and sleep
Reducing aches and pain
Helping manage weight
Helping to manage or reduce the risk of other health conditions such as diabetes

The ComeBACK Trial is a 12 month trial investigating the effect of two programs aimed at improving physical activity levels of adults with walking difficulties.

What’s Involved?

This 12 month study involves the following measurements:

• Questionnaires (about your general health) completed before study interventions and then at 3, 6 and 12 months.

• Physical activity levels measured using a StepWatch for 7 days at the start of the study, and at 6 and 12 months.

You will randomly be allocated to receive one of three interventions. As this is a research study you will not be able to choose which group you will be allocated to:

Coaching to ComeBACK: a single face-to-face one hour physiotherapist assessment at home, a tailored physical activity plan, phone-based health coaching for 6 months, access to paper-based and online resources, and technologies to use where appropriate (e.g. a Fitbit or simple pedometer).

Texting to ComeBACK: a single phone session from a physiotherapist with advice to increase physical activity, a tailored physical activity plan, 6 months of text message support, and access to paper-based and online resources.

Texting to ComeBACK Later: will receive the Texting to ComeBACK program after a 6 month delay.

Recruitment criteria

To be eligible for the trial you must be over 18 years of age, have access to a mobile phone, be keen to increase your physical activity, and meet the following criteria:

Find walking 800m (half a mile) difficult (eg due to arthritis, overweight, post-COVID recovery/long COVID, fatigue, pain, etc.);
Be living in the community (as opposed to resedential care);
Currently not doing more than 150mins/week of moderate physical activity; and
Have sufficient hearing and English language skills for a phone-based program

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

ComeBACK Study Team

comeback.trial@sydney.edu.au

(02) 8627 6235

The Join Us Register Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this land. We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and Elders, past and present.

We acknowledge and celebrate the knowledge and the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and recognise their continuing connection to land and waters.

We thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the many individuals, organisations that have supported and guided us through our journey.

There is a huge opportunity to partner more with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to build on existing community strengths and resilience, often in the face of ongoing inequities. Through Join Us, we will work together in the spirit of reciprocity to address ongoing impacts of colonisation so that we can all realise optimal health and wellbeing.

+61 2 8052 4798

info@joinus.org.au

The Join Us Register is currently funded by the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA).

For more information about ASHRA, click here.

ComeBACK Study

Study Purpose/Description

What’s Involved?

Recruitment criteria

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

ComeBACK Study Team

Join Us Register

For Participants

For Researchers

Resources

An initiative of

Register your interest