The Comparisons of Effects of Core Stability Exercise and Tai Chi on Core Muscle Performances in Elderly

The Comparisons of Effects of Core Stability Exercise and Tai Chi on Core Muscle Performances, Core Stability and Balance in Community-living Elderly

Core muscles and core stability has a key component in the postural control or balance. However, no clear evidence has been found for the positive relationship between core stability and postural control in the elderly, and the effects of core stabilizing training on postural control or balance in the elderly. The purposes of this project are to investigate the effects of core stability training program on muscle strength, muscle performance, and balance outcomes in elderly adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Tai Ji
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Core exercise; Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise

Detailed Description

In this pretest, posttest design study, elderly adults enrolled and assigned to the core exercise group or Tai Chi exercise group, the core exercise group received core exercise intervention comparing to Tai Chi exercise group participated Tai chi exercise program as a control group.

The young adults group were also enrolled for a reference group, not received any exercise intervention and just only received the measurements once.

Participants in the two elderly group will receive 12-week, 36-session exercise-based core stability training class. The each 60 minutes core exercise class focuses on exercise for improving strength, endurance of core muscles and trunk stability.

Participants need complete baseline assessments of muscle performance, and balance ability measures 1 week prior and 1 week and 12 weeks following the intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 71
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 74 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Core exercise group and Tai Chi exercise group

   1. healthy community-dwelling older adults (60-74 years old)
   2. not received any core stability or Tai Chi Chuan training within the previous 6 months
   3. independent in basic daily living activities
   4. able to move freely without any assistance
2. Young adults group a. Their age should be ranged between 20 - 59 years

Exclusion Criteria:

All group

1. have a history of orthopedic surgery on spine or lower extremity
2. have any spine pathology (e.g., spondylolisthesis, disc herniation)
3. have a pain over back or lower limbs to affect the ability to perform activities of daily living
4. had a history of vestibular disease (e.g., Meniere' s disease)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Core exercise group; The healthy community-dwelling older adults (60-74 years old), who had not received any core stability or Tai Chi Chuan training within the previous 6 months, were recruited in this study. All the subjects were independent in basic daily living activities and able to move freely without any assistance.	Behavioral: Core exercise; Participants will receive12-week, 60 minutes, 36-session exercise-based core stability training class. Participants need complete baseline assessments of muscle performance, and balance ability measures 1 week prior and 1 week and 12 weeks following the intervention. All subjects will receive two post-exercise measurements at 13th week and 25th week.
Experimental: Tai Chi exercise group; The healthy community-dwelling older adults (60-74 years old), who had not received any core stability or Tai Chi Chuan training within the previous 6 months, were recruited in this study. All the subjects were independent in basic daily living activities and able to move freely without any assistance.	Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise; Participants will receive 12-week, 60 minutes, 36-session Tai Chi exercise training class. Participants need complete baseline assessments of muscle performance, and balance ability measures 1 week prior and 1 week and 12 weeks following the intervention. All subjects will receive two post-exercise measurements at 13th week and 25th week.
No Intervention: Young adults group; The healthy young adults who have not any neurological, musculoskeletal or rheumatic disease were recruited as a reference group. They would not receive any training program in the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in strength of core muscle groups (trunk) at 12-week	Using a custom-made isometric dynamometer to measure the strength of trunk flexors, extensors and rotators	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in strength of core muscle groups (hip) at 12-week	Using a hand-held dynamometer to measure the hip muscle strength	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in endurance of core muscle groups at 12-week	Using the Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU) during the leg-loading test to measure the endurance of lumbo-pelvic stability	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles at 12-week	Using the sit and reach test to measure the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in ability of the dynamic balance at 12-week	Using the Dual-tasking 3m Timed up and go (3m-TUG) to measure dynamic balance and the fall risk. Mean time to perform 3m-TUG is 11.56 seconds	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in assessment of postural control at 12-week	Using a force plate to collect the center of pressure (COP) displacement	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in muscle activity of selected core muscles during performing arm-raising tasks at 12-week	Using a surface electromyography to record the muscle activity of abdominal and trunk muscles during performing arms-raising tasks with hand-holding 1.5-2 kg	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention
Changes in assessment of postural control during performing arm-raising tasks at 12-week	Using a force plate to collect the center of pressure (COP) displacement during performing arms-raising tasks with hand-holding 1.5-2 kg	The assessments will be conducted 1 and 12 weeks following the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
• Investigators: Study Director: Li-Jiun Liaw, Kaohsiung Medical University Department of Physical Therapy Associate Professor

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 3, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 14, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 14, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2021
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: KMUH-IRB-20120427

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: Currently in the submission stage ,and then share with other researchers after publication

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No