Comparing Tai Chi Training to a Low-Stress Physical Activity to Enhance Sleep in Older Adults

September 30, 2013 updated by: Oregon Research Institute

Tai Chi Training and Sleep Enhancement in the Elderly

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Tai Chi, in comparison to conventional exercise, on the quality of sleep among sedentary older adults.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Elderly individuals often suffer from sleep disturbances. Chronic sleep problems can cause significant medical, psychological, and social disruptions. Although many sleep-related studies exist, few studies have focused on improving quality of sleep. Tai Chi, an exercise that incorporates meditation and breathing with whole body movements, may improve the quality of sleep and health status of elderly individuals.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a Tai Chi group or a conventional exercise control group. Participants in each group will exercise for 60 minutes, 3 times per week, for 6 months. Assessment of sleep quality and health status will be done at study start, 3 months, 6 months, at the end of the study, and at a 3-month follow-up visit.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

100

Phase

  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Oregon
      • Eugene, Oregon, United States, 97403
        • Oregon Research Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Sedentary, as defined by a lack of regular exercise during the previous 6 months
  • Healthy to the degree that participation in exercise testing and an exercise program would not exacerbate any existing disease condition
  • Physician's clearance for participation
  • Willingness to adhere to the conditions of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Sleep medication or other psychotropic medication during the study
  • Current sleep disorder treatment
  • Significant cognitive impairment as indicated by a score of 3 on the Pfeiffer Mental Status Questionnaire
  • More than 7 alcoholic beverages per week or use of alcohol close to bedtime
  • Smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day
  • Score of 5 or higher in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire
  • Score of 3 or higher on 2 out of 3 sleep items drawn from the Sleep Questionnaire and Assessment of Wakefulness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Oregon Research Institute

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2001

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2002

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2003

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 10, 2004

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 11, 2004

First Posted (Estimate)

March 12, 2004

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 1, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2013

Last Verified

September 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R03MH062327 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • DSIR AT-SO (NorthShore LIJ Health System)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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