Recruiting

AI Coaching

Sponsor:

University of Miami

Code:

NCT07318233

Conditions

Exercise Training

Exercise Behavior

Exercise Adherence Challenges

Motivation for Physical Activity

Motivational Enhancement

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 40

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Group 1: Self-efficacy-based AI coaching

Group 2: Static AI Affirmations

Study Details

Brief summary:

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether adaptive, AI-delivered personalized self-efficacy-based AI coaching based on real-time physiological and performance feedback enhance indoor cycling power output during a 20-minute time trial compared to static affirmations and exercise-only control conditions.

Conditions

Exercise Training

Exercise Behavior

Exercise Adherence Challenges

Motivation for Physical Activity

Motivational Enhancement

Study ID

NCT07318233

Start date

May 15, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Dec 28, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 23, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 40

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-40 years

  • Recreationally active
  • Familiar with stationary cycling
  • Able to complete 20 minutes of vigorous cycling

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cardiovascular, metabolic, or respiratory conditions

  • Medications affecting heart rate response
  • Lower extremity injury within past 3 months
  • Competitive cyclists (>10 hours cycling/week)
  • Pregnancy

Study Design

Enrollment

120 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

no intervention: Control Group

No affirmations delivered. Participants receive only time notifications at 5, 10, 15, and 19 minutes for pacing awareness. Same equipment worn to control for potential monitoring effects.

experimental: Group 1: Self-efficacy-based AI coaching

The Thompson Sampling contextual bandit algorithm, trained on Session 1 data, monitors performance continuously and evaluates every 5 seconds whether to deliver an affirmation.

active comparator: Group 2: Static AI Affirmations

Generic motivational messages delivered at fixed intervals (minutes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18) regardless of performance state. Messages follow the same complexity gradient based on elapsed time rather than individual response.

Interventions

Group 1: Self-efficacy-based AI coaching

The Thompson Sampling contextual bandit algorithm, trained on Session 1 data, monitors performance continuously and evaluates every 5 seconds whether to deliver an affirmation. The policy is trained to maximize a multi-objective "efficacy-preserving performance" function that rewards:

  • Maintaining target power relative to rolling 30s/2min/5min baselines
  • Stabilizing short-horizon power variability (30s coefficient of variation)
  • Stabilizing heart-rate (HR) trajectory consistent with efficient pacing

The decision process considers:

  • Current power relative to 30-second, 2-minute, and 5-minute rolling averages
  • Power output variability (coefficient of variation over past 30 seconds)
  • Heart rate trajectory and cardiac drift patterns
  • Cadence stability and changes from baseline
  • Time elapsed and expected fatigue progression based on power-duration curve Self-efficacy-based AI coaching adapts to physiological measures (power and heart rate).

Group 2: Static AI Affirmations

Generic motivational messages delivered at fixed intervals (minutes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18) regardless of performance state. Messages follow the same complexity gradient based on elapsed time rather than individual response:

  • Minutes 3, 6: "You're building momentum with every pedal stroke-maintain this strong rhythm"
  • Minutes 9, 12: "Strong effort-push through this challenge"
  • Minutes 15, 18: "Final push-finish strong"

Primary outcome measure

  • Mean cycling power output during 20-minute time trial [ Time Frame: Day 2 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Anna Queiroz, Ph.D.

305-284-3752aqueiroz@miami.edu

Meshak Cole, B.S.

305-284-3752mwc94@miami.edu

Locations

University of Miami

Recruiting

Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 33146

Contacts

Anna Queiroz, Ph.D.

305-284-3752aqueiroz@miami.edu

Meshak Cole, B.S.

305 2843752mwc94@miami.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Miami

Last update posted

Aug 17, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • Physical Activity
  • AI affirmations
  • just-in-time adaptive intervention
  • cycling

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Miami on 2026-08-17.