A Mobile Tai Chi Platform for Fall Prevention in Older Adults - Phase II

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: This is a single-arm longitudinal feasibility study for older adults that involves a 12-week home-based Tai Chi program and includes four remote and/or in-person data collection visits. The investigators will collect additional clinical data in a subset of participants who agree to undergo additional assessments in the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA during two in-person data collection sessions. The investigators will assess feasibility and acceptability of the Tele-Tai Chi intervention; explore changes in clinically relevant outcome measures including: physical activity, self-efficacy, quality of life, balance, and gait; and evaluate longitudinal changes in Tai Chi proficiency.

Detailed Description: The overall goal of the study is to test the delivery of a novel Tele-Tai Chi (TC) intervention in a single-arm feasibility study for community-dwelling TC-naïve older adults. The investigators will assess feasibility and acceptability of the Tele-TC intervention and its specific components through both qualitative and quantitative feedback, as well as the systematic tracking of adherence data to inform future trials and potential clinical use of the Tele-TC system. The investigators will also explore changes in outcome measures including physical activity, self-efficacy, quality of life, and gait, and evaluate changes in TC proficiency.

Over the course of the 12-week program, participants will be assessed 4 times (baseline, two follow-up assessments at 4 and 8 weeks respectively, and a final assessment at 12 weeks).

Study volunteers will be instructed to train on their own at least three times a week and to participate in 1:1 live sessions with TC instructors two or more times during the study period.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Men and women between 60 and 85 years old
TC naïve (i.e., never practiced TC)
Self-reported ability to walk continuously for 15 minutes without an assistive device
Working email address
Prior experience with and current access to a computer, smart phone or tablet device

Exclusion Criteria

Chronic neuromuscular conditions (e.g. Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke)
Acute medical conditions requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months or that could interfere with the ability of prospective volunteers to safely participate in the study
Active cancer
Significant musculoskeletal conditions requiring chronic use of pain medication
Cognitive impairment (Diagnosed with dementia (self-reported), or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)-Blind score < 18)

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Tele-Tai Chi	Tele-Tai Chi	Tele-Tai Chi intervention

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Protocol Adherence	Post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks)	The percentage of Tai Chi home practice sessions completed by participants.
Retention	Through study completion, approximately 12 weeks from the beginning of the study	The percentage of participants who complete the study.
System Usability Scale	Post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks)	The scale is based on a 10-item questionnaire with five response options (from Strongly agree to Strongly disagree) in which participants rate the usability of the system. The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater usability.