Medical Qigong for Mobility and Balance Self-Confidence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The population is aging and increasingly at risk for falls and fractures with substantial consequences to wellbeing, health and costs. Training interventions such as Tai Chi have been demonstrated to help reduce these risks. Tai chi is a subset of both martial and medical qi gong. This is a prospective intervention study with wait time control that will examine the ability of a manualized medical qi gong training protocol improve balance, gait and health self-confidence. The intervention is a 12 week manualized medical qi gong training program where students are taught a progressive series of 10 qi gong forms that are designed to build upon each other and restore balance and function. These forms involve both physical movement and visualization. The Community Balance and Mobility scale (a performance based measure) and Activities-specified Balance Confidence scale (a survey)will be the prime outcome instruments

Official Title
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Medical Qigong for Mobility and Balance Self-Confidence

Conditions
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Falls, Balance Self-confidence

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Medical QiGong training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adults 50 years of age or older who presented at the two study locations (Massachusetts, Arizona) were considered eligible for participation Exclusion Criteria: Unable to participate in informed consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Immediate start<br> | Behavioral: Medical QiGong training<br>* The study intervention consisted of a 12-week training program that introduced students to a progressive series of 10 QiGong forms that are designed to build upon each other to restore balance and function and to enhance well-being. These forms involve both physical movement and visualization.<br>|
| Active Comparator: wait time control<br> | Behavioral: Medical QiGong training<br>* The study intervention consisted of a 12-week training program that introduced students to a progressive series of 10 QiGong forms that are designed to build upon each other to restore balance and function and to enhance well-being. These forms involve both physical movement and visualization.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Community Balance and Mobility Scale |  | through study completion, up to 16 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale |  | through study completion, up to 16 weeks |