Activating SilverSneakers Benefits for Seniors With Osteoarthritis
Activating SilverSneakers Benefits for Seniors With Osteoarthritis: Proactive Versus Usual Care
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
1,454 participants
Jan 21, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The aim of this pragmatic randomized controlled trial is to test the effects of a brief proactive care intervention involving mailed material and two phone calls on: (1) increasing participation in SilverSneakers exercise programs among older adults with osteoarthritis; (2) improving physical, social and psychological outcomes identified as important to older adults with osteoarthritis; and (3) reducing costly osteoarthritis-related health service use. Approximately 1,454 older adults with osteoarthritis who have SilverSneakers access through their Medicare Advantage plan, but no prior SilverSneakers use, will be recruited to participate across the United States. Key outcome measures will be assessed over a two-year follow-up period.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Aged 65 and older.
- ICD-9 or ICD-10 code for hip, knee, or general osteoarthritis.
- Positive response to a standardized question from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey that asks if patient was diagnosed with osteoarthritis/arthritis and self-report confirmation of hip and/or knee pain due to their osteoarthritis/arthritis.
- Continuous enrollment for at least one year in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan which provides free SilverSneakers access and both medical and prescription drug coverage.
- Not currently or previously enrolled in SilverSneakers.
- Speak English or Spanish.
- Physical/mental capacity to provide informed consent, based on not having an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code for dementia and being able to answer three questions to verify comprehension of the informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria5
- Another person in the same household is enrolling/enrolled in the study (to prevent treatment contamination, only one participant per household can participate).
- Medicare/Medicaid dual enrollment due to limited data accessibility for this group.
- Receiving hospice care or under long-term institutional care (Part C) due to limited data accessibility for this group.
- Receiving care from a provider credentialed through a delegated arrangement (i.e., delegated provider), due to limited data accessibility for this group.
- Lack of a valid mailing address in the Humana medical claims databases.
Interested in this trial?
Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.
Interventions
The proactive care intervention was designed to be similar to proactive care approaches used successfully in the tobacco control area. These proactive care procedures have not yet been adequately evaluated in the exercise promotion area.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT06782347