Using SPOZ Technology to Support and Enhance the Vitality Acupunch (VA) Exercise Program for Older Adults With Dementia

The Integration of SPOZ Technology to Support and Enhance the Vitality Acupunch Exercise Program for Improving the Cognitive Behavioral Impairment and Sensory Perceptual Impairment of Older Adults With Dementia

This project was aimed to examine the effects of a six-month VA exercise program incorporate the SPOZ technology in improving the cognitive behavioral impairment and sensory perceptual impairment of older adults with dementia in adult daycare centers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cognitive and Behavioral Impairment; Sensory and Perceptual Impairment
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Control; Other: VA-SPOZ exercise program

Detailed Description

A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of a six-month VA exercise program incorporated the SPOZ technology in improving the cognitive behavioral impairment (using Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire) and sensory perceptual impairment (using Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia) of older adults with dementia in adult daycare centers. Using convenience sampling, 10 adult daycare centers with 142 older adults were recruited, and then cluster-randomized by the daycare centers to an experimental or a control group. The experimental group received a 40-minute program 3 times a week for 6 months; the control group maintained their routine activities. The two groups were measured at three time points: before the intervention, and at three months and six months of the intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 142
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taiwan
    • Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan, 80708
      • Kaohsiung Medical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosed as dementia by a physician, or
• screened by the SPMSQ as dementia
• age 65 and older

Exclusion Criteria:

• have severe cardiopulmonary disease
• have physical mobility impairment
• have spinal cord injury

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control; Participants in the control group maintained their routine activities.	Other: Control; Participants maintained their routine activities.
Experimental: VA-SPOZ exercise program; The VA-SPOZ exercise program was comprised of three parts: (1) the first part had 5 movements, including breathing regulation, alternating arm stretching, trunk movement, alternating left and right legs, and gradually started the blood circulation in a gentle way; (2) the second part had 14 movements, using five punching techniques, the left and right arms alternating in a natural parabola, and punching the acupoints to vibrate meridians. The purpose of the second part of the movement was to stimulate the 14 meridians and to promote the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body; (3) the third part had 5 movements, which were to adjust the breath, relax the muscles, stretch the body, and warm the face and lower back of the body by hand touch. Participants wore SPOZ devices on both hands to record and track the accuracy of the movements.The 40-minute program was administered three times a week for 6 months.	Other: VA-SPOZ exercise program; The VA-SPOZ exercise program had three phases and took 40 minutes to complete. The program was performed in a seated position, and the participants wore SPOZ devices on both hands to record and track the accuracy of the movements.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cognitive status	measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A scale that includes seven aspects: visuospatial and executive functioning, animal naming, delayed recall (short-term memory), attention, language, abstraction, and orientation. The total score ranges between 0 and 30: a score ≥ 26 indicates no cognitive impairment, 18-25 indicates mild cognitive impairment, 10-17 represents moderate impairment, and < 10 indicates severe impairment.	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain status	measured by the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia. A 5-item scale that includes patient's breathing pattern, uncomfortable/negative vocalization, facial expression, body language, and soothability. Scores are rated on a scale of 0-2. The total score is between 0 and 10; a higher score indicates a higher level of observed discomfort.	6 months
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)	measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. The 12 items measure 12 psychiatric behavioral symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/bad mood, anxiety, euphoria/elation, apathy, vocally disruptive behaviors, irritable/changeable mood, aberrant motor behaviors, sleep/nighttime behaviors, and changes in appetite/eating behaviors. The assessment consists of three parts: (1) to determine the presence or absence of symptoms, 0 = no, 1 = yes; (2) to determine the severity of the symptoms, rating between 1 and 3, and the total score is 36 with higher scores indicate more severe symptoms; (3) to rate the degree of caregiver's distress caused by the client's symptoms on a scale of 0-5, and the total score is 60 with higher scores indicating greater distress.	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kaohsiung Medical University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kuei-Min Chen, PhD, Kaohsiung Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 23, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 18, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 18, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 23, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 18, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Dementia
• Other Study ID Numbers: KMUHIRB-F(I)-20240009(1)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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