Effects of Tai Chi on Frailty in Elderly Adults

The Effects of Tai Chi on the Nonlinear Dynamics of Frailty in Elderly Adults

The aim of this study is determine the effects of Tai Chi exercise, as compared to an education-based control intervention, on cardiovascular and balance system function in older people at risk of developing frailty. We hypothesize that long-term Tai Chi training will improve specific nonlinear properties associated of cardiovascular and balance dynamics in this population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Frailty
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Tai Chi; Other: Education-Control

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 66
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States, 02131
      • Hebrew Rehabilitation Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 70 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women over age 70 will be included if they are able to stand and walk unassisted, are free of any acute or unstable medical conditions, and are able to understand directions and participate in the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Potential subjects will be excluded 1) if they cannot stand and ambulate unassisted, 2) are experiencing any symptomatic cardiovascular or respiratory disease, or have 3) a myocardial infarction or stroke within 6 months, 4) painful arthritis, spinal stenosis, amputation, painful foot lesions, or neuropathy that limits balance and mobility, 5) systolic BP above 160 or diastolic BP above 100 mm Hg, 6) a cardiac pacemaker, 7) Parkinson's Disease or other neuromuscular disorder, 8) metastatic cancer or immunosuppressive therapy, or 9) have significant visual impairment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Tai Chi group	Other: Tai Chi; The Tai Chi intervention will consist of a 12 week, instructor-led, group-based Tai Chi training program (two, one-hour sessions per week).
Active Comparator: Educational Control group	Other: Education-Control; The Education-Control intervention consists of a 12 week, instructor-led attention control program consisting of health education and mind-body breathing exercises (two, one-hour sessions per week)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frailty Index	Frailty is defined as the combination of unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slow walking speed, and muscular weakness.	post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hebrew SeniorLife
• Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lewis Lipsitz, MD, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 18, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2010
• First Posted (Estimated): May 20, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 19, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Frailty
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10-005; R37AG025037 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)