Tai Chi for Improving Functions of Frail Older Adults

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Frailty
• Interventions: Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise

• Registration Number: NCT05629728
• Lead Sponsor: Chungnam National University

Brief Summary

The goals of this study are to examine the physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life among frail elderly residing in the community

Detailed Description

This randomized clinical trial recruited 100 frail older adults, assigned to either the Tai Chi group or the wait-list control group. Tai Chi intervention will be provided to the Tai Chi group for 12 weeks with 12-week follow-up and pretest and posttest measures will be conducted.

The primary outcome is the function variables (physical function of balance, flexibility, mobility; cognitive function of MOCA-K) The secondary outcome is quality of life measured by SF12.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-11-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-11-17
• Study First Posted: 2022-11-29
• Study Start: 2023-07-01
• Status Verified: 2024-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-08-19
• Last Update Posted: 2024-08-20
• Primary Completion: 2025-08-30
• Study Completion: 2025-12-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• being frail (3 out of the following 5 criteria): feeling fatigued, difficulty climbing 10 stairs without help, difficulty walking 300m without help, more than 5 chronic illness, weight loss 5 % or more past 1-5 years
• living in the community
• able to participate in Tai Chi program twice a week

Exclusion Criteria

• participated in any formal exercise program past 6 months
• not have transportation to come to the class

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
frail elderly-TC	Tai Chi exercise	Tai Chi group received 12 weeks of Tai Chi exercise program with 12 week follow-up, twice a week, 60 min per session led by a trained Tai Chi instructor

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
physical function - balance	changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores	balance was assessed using a one-leg-standing balance test (OLST)
physical function - flexibility	changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores	flexibility was assessed by the standard sit-and-reach test (SSRT)
physical function - mobility	changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores	mobility was assessed by the Timed Up and Go test (TUG)
cognitive function	changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores	MOCA-K (Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment) was used with the maximum score of 30. (more than 23 is normal and less than 13 is dementia, more cognitively impaired)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Short Form health survey 12 (SF12)	changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores	Short Form health survey 12 which consists of eight dimensions: general health, physical functioning, role physical, body pain, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health. two summary scores for the physical and mental components of health-related QoL are calculated by using the weighted means for the eight domains. Higher scores indicate better health-related QoL.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Chungnam National University; 🇰🇷 Daejeon, Korea, Republic of