The Effect of Tai Chi Exercise Among Elders With Sarcopenia

January 18, 2023 updated by: China Medical University Hospital

Sarcopenia has been defined as a disease which presented as low muscles strength, low muscle quantity or quality and low physical activity. The prevalence of sarcopenia is increasing with the age and it is also included in one of geriatric syndromes. Several criteria have been mentioned for diagnosis of sarcopenia, such as European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP)、Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Biomarkers Consortium Sarcopenia Project (FNIH) and Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS).

In European, the prevalence rate of sarcopenia is 9.25-18%; 5-7% Canadian and 14.4% Taiwanese elders have been diagnosed as sarcopenia, respectively. The sarcopenia has been found its relationship with adverse outcomes of fall down, fracture, disability, and death. The cytokines and decline in anabolic hormones play a role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Tai Chi exercise is one of Qigong and well-popular in Chinese population, and is helpful to integration of body movements. Tai Chi exercise is less complicated and emphasized people's awareness of self-care which presented the relationship between human and nature. Tai Chi exercise could improve muscle performance, balance and have the benefit for fall down prevention in the elders and patients with frailty. Furthermore, Tai Chi has been found that it also could improve the muscle power and power strength in sarcopenic elders by team training. Furthermore, immune makers of inflammation process have been noted their diminishments by Qigong intervention.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Tai Chi exercise in sarcopenic elders through practicing at home. The differences of muscles strength, muscle quantity or quality and physical activity after interventions would be recorded and analyzed. The cytokines related to the sarcopenia process would also be sampled.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

  • Taiwan
      • Taichung, Taiwan
        • China Medical University Hospital

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

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 60 or older;
  • With a diagnosis of sarcopenia [defined as EWGSOP-2] (6);
  • Without planned exercise program or unplanned admission in 6 months;
  • Could tolerate tests of muscle power and strength.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus;
  • Uncontrolled cardiovascular diseases;
  • Uncontrolled hypertension;
  • Knee or hip prosthesis, pacemaker, fracture in the previous 6 months,
  • Critical cognitive (MMSE<23)
  • Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA <17)
  • Physical dysfunctions that could not tolerate our tests

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: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Tai Chi exercise
In addition to standard of care participants will be asked to apply Tai Chi. There are 8 movements. Each session consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of Tai Chi, and 10 minutes of cool down. The 8 movements are: Ward-off, Rollback, Push, Press, Grab, Split, Elbow strike, and shoulder strike.
Behavioral: Tai-Chi
Tai Chi exercise could improve muscle performance, balance and have the benefit for fall down prevention in the elders and patients with frailty.
Other Names:
  • Split
  • Ward-off
  • Rollback
  • Push
  • Press
  • Grab
  • Elbow Strike
  • Shoulder Strike
Active Comparator: Comprehensive training
In addition to standard of care participants will be asked to apply Comprehensive training. There are 3 exercises. Each session consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of Tai Chi, and 10 minutes of cool down. The 8 movements are: stretch exercise, strengthening exercise, and balance exercise.
Behavioral: Comprehensive training
There are 3 exercises. Each session consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of Tai Chi, and 10 minutes of cool down.
Other Names:
  • Balance training
  • Stretch exercise
  • Strengthening exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass in kilograms
Time Frame: baseline
The appendicular skeletal muscle mass is evaluated by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) analysis
baseline
Change from baseline appendicular skeletal muscle mass at 8 weeks
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The appendicular skeletal muscle mass is evaluated by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) analysis
8 weeks
Hand grip in kilograms
Time Frame: baseline
The muscle strength is evaluated with the hand-grip strength (kg) by dynamometer
baseline
Hand grip in kilograms
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The muscle strength is evaluated with the hand-grip strength (kg) by dynamometer
8 weeks
Times Chair-stand test (5-CST) in minutes
Time Frame: baseline
The 5CST is evaluated by recording the total time that patient repeat 5 times stand and sit motion from chair
baseline
Times Chair-stand test (5-CST) in minutes
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The 5CST is evaluated by recording the total time that patient repeat 5 times stand and sit motion from chair
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

China Medical University Hospital

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 (Actual)

December 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 29, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

September 28, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 14, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 3, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

December 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 19, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 18, 2023

Last Verified

January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CMUH110-REC2-107

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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.

Clinical Trials on Tai Chi

Clinical Trials on Tai-Chi

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Russia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe