Recruiting

ZEST-E

Sponsor:

Emory University

Code:

NCT07382674

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 40+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

ZEST-E Robot-Assisted Exercise Program

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study will evaluate exercise delivered through the Zesty Exercise System for Therapeutic Engagement (ZEST-E) for people with Parkinson's disease when sessions are monitored either in person or remotely. Participants will complete robot-guided exercise three times per week for three weeks. The study will assess feasibility, retention, safety, acceptability, and tolerability of remotely monitored ZEST-E and will measure changes in functional performance using the Standing Forward Reach test and the 30-Second Chair Stand test. These outcomes reflect range of motion and lower-body strength targeted by the exercise program.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Study ID

NCT07382674

Start date

Mar 16, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Feb, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 40+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

-Older adults with mild to moderate PD.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute medical illness requiring hospitalization;
  • Under 40 years old;
  • Uncontrolled congestive heart failure;
  • History of stroke in the past three years;
  • Inability to perform study procedures;
  • Medical or physical conditions that would preclude participation (e.g., severe arthritis or mobility problems, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, renal failure, history of angina with activity);
  • On medications that could adversely affect cognition, e.g.: antipsychotics, opioids, stimulants, chemotherapy;
  • Psychotic disorders;
  • Confounding neurologic conditions (e.g., active central nervous system opportunistic infections, seizure disorders, head injury with loss of consciousness >30 minutes, intracranial neoplasms, stroke with neurological or neuropsychiatric sequelae);
  • Substance Use Disorder, Major Depressive and Generalized Anxiety Disorders within six months of evaluation;
  • Hohn \& Yahr > 3
  • MoCA <17

Study Design

Enrollment

46 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: In-Person Monitored ZEST-E Exercise

Participants complete ZEST-E exercise sessions with a researcher or physical therapist present in the same room to provide safety oversight. All participants begin with seated exercises in week 1 and may progress to standing exercises in weeks 2 and 3 after completing a safety tutorial and demonstrating understanding of standing-exercise precautions. The researcher monitors the robot, provides instructions, and may stop the robot at any time using the run-stop button if needed.

experimental: Remotely Monitored ZEST-E Exercise

Participants complete ZEST-E exercise sessions while the researcher or physical therapist monitors the session remotely via camera from outside the room. A trained caregiver is present in the room to provide safety oversight and to activate the robot's run-stop button if needed. Participants follow the same progression from seated to standing exercises as in the in-person arm, contingent on completion of the safety tutorial and demonstration of safe technique.

Interventions

ZEST-E Robot-Assisted Exercise Program

Participants complete robot-guided exercises using the ZEST-E system. Sessions include reaching, stretching, and dual-task movements for upper and lower limbs. Before each exercise, participants view a video demonstration or receive instruction from staff. ZEST-E presents targets to tap with hands, feet, or knees and uses calibration and practice trials to set positions. The robot operates with force-limited controls, back-drivable joints, and an emergency run-stop button. Participants may request to stop the robot at any time. All participants begin with seated exercises in week 1 and may progress to standing exercises in weeks 2-3 after completing a safety tutorial. Safety supports such as mats, chairs, and gait belts are used during standing tasks.

Training will consist of 1-hour bouts, 3 times/week for 3 weeks

Primary outcome measure

  • Standing Forward Reach (SFR) Test [ Time Frame: Baseline, after 3 weeks ]
  • 30-Second Chair Stand Test [ Time Frame: Baseline, after 3 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Madeleine Hackney, PhD

314-412-4852mehackn@emory.edu

Hannah Kim

hannah.kim3@emory.edu

Locations

Emory University, 57 Executive Park S NE, Ste 200

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30329

Contacts

Madeleine Hackney, PhD

mehackn@emory.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Emory University

Last update posted

May 26, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Exercise
  • Robotics
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Caregivers
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Strength

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Emory University on 2026-05-26.