TechSAge Tele Tai Chi for People Aging With Mobility Disabilities
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Physical activity
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study uses videoconferencing to deliver an evidence-based exercise program, Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis, to adults aging with long-term mobility disabilities. In the 8-week Tele Tai Chi intervention, participants will use a tablet or computer to join a small-group, online class (1hr, twice weekly) from home; during each session, participants will exercise as a group along with the pre-recorded video lessons and have the opportunity for social interaction (via video chat) before and after class. The study will examine the effects of the Tele Tai Chi program on physical activity and social connectedness for adults aging with long-term mobility disabilities, a population likely to experience barriers to exercise participation.
Detailed Description
This study is part of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-Term Disabilities (RERC TechSAge). This study uses videoconferencing to translate an evidence-based exercise program for older adults, Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis, from an in-person setting to a remote class and to a different population, adults aging with mobility disabilities. In the 8-week Tele Tai Chi intervention, participants will use a tablet or computer to join a small-group, online class (1hr, twice weekly) from home; during each session, participants will exercise as a group along with the pre-recorded video lessons and have the opportunity for social interaction (via video chat) before and after class. The study will examine the effects of the Tele Tai Chi program on physical activity and social connectedness (primary outcomes), as well as exercise self-efficacy, falls efficacy, depression, quality of life, and pain (secondary outcomes) for adults aging with long-term mobility disabilities, a population likely to experience barriers to in-person exercise participation.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 60 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Be between the ages of 60-80
- •Self-identify as having a mobility disability, use a mobility aid (i.e., cane, crutches, wheelchair, walker, or scooter) or have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs
- •Mobility disability for at least 10 years
- •Passing score on Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or letter from physician stating approved to participate in the intervention
- •Passing score on Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS)-score 26 and above included
- •Passing score of brief Technology Proficiency Screen (e.g., be able to do send and receive email)
- •Have access to a webcam on computer or tablet
- •Plan to have internet access for six months from screening
- •Live in the US
- •Be conversational in English
- •Available to attend 1 hr online class 2x a week for 8 weeks
Exclusion Criteria
- •Blind or deaf
- •Significant Tai Chi practice during the past 6 months
Arms & Interventions
Tele Tai Chi
8-week Tele Tai Chi intervention
Intervention: Tele Tai Chi Intervention for Persons Aging with Long-Term Mobility Disabilities (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Physical activity
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 1-8 of intervention, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up
Change in physical activity (mode, frequency, duration, intensity) as measured by the leisure activity dimension of the Physical Activity Scale for Persons with Physical Disabilities1, a self-report measure of physical activity (Range 0-98.67; Higher score means greater physical activity. Lower score means less physical activity). Self-report completion of Tai Chi practice (Range 1-4; Higher score indicates greater frequency of practice. Lower score indicates less frequent of practice).
Social connectedness
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up
Change in perception of social connectedness (loneliness), as measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8)3 (Range 8-32; Higher score indicates a greater degree of loneliness. Lower score reflects a lower degree of loneliness), Social Isolation Questionnaire4 (Social Disconnectedness Scale, Social Isolation Scale, Perceived Social Isolation scale; Range 15-67; Higher score indicates a greater degree of loneliness. Lower score reflects a lower degree of loneliness).
Secondary Outcomes
- Exercise Self-Efficacy(Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up)
- Falls Efficacy(Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up)
- Depression(Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up)
- Quality of Life (QOL)(Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up)
- Pain Interference(Baseline, PPost-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up)
Investigators
Tracy Mitzner
Senior Research Scientist
Georgia Institute of Technology