Exercise may rewire fear memories in PTSD patients

NCT ID NCT06127342

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Christal L Badour Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Sep 17, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study looks at how exercise affects the way people with PTSD learn and remember emotional information. One hundred adults with PTSD from interpersonal violence will do either moderate or light cycling after recalling a traumatic memory. Researchers will measure anxiety, heart rate, and brain activity using MRI to see if exercise changes how the brain processes fear.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Moderate or low intensity stationary cycling
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to boost the effectiveness of PTSD treatments by adding exercise.
What could go wrong: This is an early, small study focused on understanding brain processes, not testing a treatment. Results may not lead to a direct therapy or apply to everyone with PTSD.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 100 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

May 2024

Expected to finish

Nov 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 64 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults with PTSD related to interpersonal violence Exclusion Criteria: * Active or recent (within the last 3 months) severe substance use disorder(s) * Active or recent (within the last 3 months) suicidal, psychotic, or manic symptoms/ episodes * Significant developmental disabilities * Current daily benzodiazepine or stimulant use with inability to abstain for study sessions * Recent changes in psychiatric medication or trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (past 4-weeks) * Medical condition(s) that prohibit exercise * History of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness \> 30 mins * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contraindication(s) * Positive pregnancy test * History of seizure disorder * Spontaneous seizure(s) within the last 3 months

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Motor Activity post-traumatic stress disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PTSD

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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A doctor treating you

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Exercise may rewire fear memories in PTSD patients

What the study statuses mean