Integrating 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 Disease Dysfunction and Functional Fitness Deterioration of Older Adults With Dementia

This project was aimed to examine the effects of a six-month VA exercise program incorporated the SPOZ technology in improving the disease dysfunction and functional fitness deterioration of older adults with dementia in adult daycare centers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep Quality; Activities of Daily Living; Disease and Dysfunction; Functional Fitness Deterioration; Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: VA-SPOZ exercise program; Other: Control

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 disease dysfunction, functional fitness deterioration (balance, lower muscle endurance, gait speed, handgrip strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle endurance, agility, body flexibility), activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and sleep quality 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
Experimental: VA-SPOZ exercise program; The VA-SPOZ exercise program was comprised of 3 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 3 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.
Active Comparator: Control; Participants in the control group maintained their routine activities.	Other: Control; Participants maintained their routine activities.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Balance	measured by the Balance tests in SPPB	6 months
Lower muscle endurance	measured by the 5-time sit-to-stand in SPPB	6 months
Gait speed	measured by the 4-m walk in SPPB	6 months
Handgrip strength	measured by the Digital Handgrip Dynamometer (TKK-5101)	6 months
Cardiorespiratory endurance	measured by the 2-minute step test	6 months
Muscle endurance	measured by the SPOZ devices	6 months
Agility	measured by the SPOZ devices	6 months
Body flexibility	measured by the SPOZ devices	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Activities of daily living (ADL)	measured by the Disability Assessment for Dementia (Categories 1-4). The scale has 47 questions measuring 11 types of activities; of which, 22 questions measuring 4 types of ADL. The scoring system (yes = 1, no = 0, and not applicable = N/A) can be divided into three parts: (1) initiation (7 items): measuring the ability to decide or to start an action; (2) planning and organization (8 items): measuring the ability to structure activities in an appropriate sequence and to be able to prepare relevant supplies or develop strategies before action; and (3) performance (7 items): measuring the ability to complete the entire activity. Divide the total score by the number of questions answered (excluding the number of questions that are not applicable), the score converts into a percentage. A higher percentage indicates less disability in daily activities.	6 months
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)	measured by the Disability Assessment for Dementia (Categories 5-10). The scale has 47 questions measuring 11 types of activities; of which, 22 questions measuring 6 types of IADL. The scoring system (yes = 1, no = 0, and not applicable = N/A) can be divided into three parts: (1) initiation (6 items): measuring the ability to decide or to start an action; (2) planning and organization (6 items): measuring the ability to structure activities in an appropriate sequence and to be able to prepare relevant supplies or develop strategies before action; and (3) performance (10 items): measuring the ability to complete the entire activity. Divide the total score by the number of questions answered (excluding the number of questions that are not applicable), the score converts into a percentage. A higher percentage indicates less disability in daily activities.	6 months
Sleep quality	measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (Item 11). The item 11 measures sleep/nighttime 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 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 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 24, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 18, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 18, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 24, 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: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Disease; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: KMUHIRB-F(I)-20240009(2)

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