Tai Chi for Improving Functions of Frail Older Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Effect of Tai Chi on Physical and Cognitive Function Among Frail Older Adults

Conditions
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Frailty

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: the frail older adults recruited from the community, randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the wait-list control group.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: frail elderly-TC<br>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 | Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise<br>* Sun-style Tai Chi (21 forms)<br>|
| No Intervention: frail elderly-WC<br>control group received no intervention for 12 weeks, and will be provided the chance to participate in Tai Chi program if they choose. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| physical function - balance | balance was assessed using a one-leg-standing balance test (OLST) | changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores | 
| physical function - flexibility | flexibility was assessed by the standard sit-and-reach test (SSRT) | changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores | 
| physical function - mobility | mobility was assessed by the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) | changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores | 
| cognitive function | 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) | changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Short Form health survey 12 (SF12) | 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. | changes from pretest to 12 week posttest scores | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Tai Chi, frail, older adults