A Sitting Tai Chi Programme for Chronic Stroke Survivors With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment

Effects of a Sitting Tai Chi Programme for Chronic Stroke Survivors With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction Stroke remains the third leading cause of death and disability combined. Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common neurological sequela that may affect up to 80% of stroke survivors. Several systematic reviews and studies indicated that Tai Chi benefits patients with mild cognitive impairment, leading to significant improvement in cognitive function.

Our previous study adopted a tailored sitting Tai Chi programme for the rehabilitation of subacute stroke survivors without any cognitive impairment. The results of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) showed that upper limb function, balance control, ADL, depressive symptoms, and QoL were significantly improved compared to the control group. To better understand the usefulness of the sitting Tai Chi programme for chronic stroke survivors with cognitive impairment and how it might affect other rehabilitation outcomes, this study was proposed to examine its feasibility and preliminary effectiveness.

Methods An outcome assessor-blinded RCT will be conducted. Participants will be randomised with a 1:1 allocation ratio to either the intervention group or the waiting list control group. A total number of 88 dyads (176 participants) including 44 stroke survivors and 44 caregivers will be recruited in each group.

For the qualitative part, a purposive sample of 30 stroke survivors with low, medium and high satisfaction scores will be invited.

Intervention Sitting Tai Chi group: Participants in the sitting Tai Chi group will receive 12 weeks of 10-form sitting Tai Chi exercise training with a frequency of three days a week and 40 minutes a day, including 5 minutes warm-up, 30 minutes Tai Chi training, and 5 minutes cool-down. A registered nurse (RN) with experience with Tai Chi training and who participated in our previous study will lead the training session. The RN will receive refresher training in sitting Tai Chi and learn the basics about the condition of PSCI and the characteristics of survivors with PSCI.

Control group: Participants in the control group will receive usual care. That is, regular inpatient treatment and care, without additional rehabilitation treatment. At the end of the intervention follow-up assessment, they will be invited to participate in the sitting Tai Chi exercise led by the same nurse as well.

Assessment and measurement Primary outcomes include cognitive function, upper limb function, balance control, and depressive symptoms. They will be assessed at baseline, eight weeks, and 12 weeks after the commencement of the sitting Tai Chi training by validated scales.

1. Cognitive function will be measured using the MoCA scale.
2. Upper limb function will be measured using Fugl-Meyer Test Upper Limb section and Wolf Motor Function Test
3. Balance control will be measured using the Berg Balance Scale and the Trunk Impairment Scale
4. Depressive symptoms will be measured by the 15 items Geriatric Depression Scale short form.
5. The Modified Barthel Index will be used to assess ADL.
6. QoL will be assessed using the Chinese version of Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale.

Feasibility and Acceptability This pilot RCT evaluates the feasibility of the sitting Tai Chi programme. Feasibility is evaluated based on recruitment and retention rates from baseline to follow-up. All participants will be invited to fill in a satisfaction survey with the sitting Tai Chi programme and the usefulness of its components.

Satisfaction A self-developed User Satisfaction Questionnaire (USQ) will be used to assess stroke survivors' satisfaction in terms of usability, acceptability, and applicability.

Adverse events measurements Any unexpected adverse events during the intervention period will be monitored. Semi-structured interview We will conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews using a pre-designed semi-structured interview guide.

Ethical considerations Ethical approval will be applied from the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong- New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee and the study hospital's research ethics committee. Written consent will be obtained from the eligible participants.

Data collection, consent, and sample storage A sociodemographic and clinical data sheet will be used to record the corresponding information. The research assistants will screen potentially eligible participants by daily reviewing the medical records of all stroke survivors admitted to the study venues.

Data processing and analysis Statistics analysis will be conducted using the IBM SPSS version 29.0. All primary analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Descriptive statistics will be used. A generalized estimating equations (GEE) model will be employed to compare differential change of each of the primary and secondary outcomes across the study time points between the two groups.

Content analysis will be used to analyse the qualitative data from the participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Stroke; Cognitive Impairment
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Tai Chi

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 176
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jie Zhao Dr., PhD; Phone Number: 85239437936; Email: ZhaoJie@link.cuhk.edu.hk

Study Locations

• China
  • Yunnan
    • Kunming, Yunnan, China, 650000
      • Recruiting
      • The Second People's Hospital of Kunming
      • Contact: Jinping Shi, Bachelor; Phone Number: +86-13708846854; Email: 412482097@qq.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria for stroke patients:

- Individuals who meet the following criteria will be recruited: i. aged 18 years or above; ii. have been admitted to a hospital with a clinical diagnosis of first or recurrent ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and meet the diagnostic criteria of PSCI (classified according to DSM-5 criteria); iii. in the chronic stage of stroke; iv. MoCA score: 19-25 (two points are added if the individual has ≤ 6 years of education; one point is added if the individual has > 6 and ≤ 12 years of education, no points are added for the individual with > 12 years of education); v. be able to sit independently with or without sitters; vi. be able to use and raise at least one arm while sitting (upper extremity muscle strength ≥ Ⅲ); vii. have a primary caregiver (a paid or unpaid person who provides most assistance to the stroke survivor); viii. be able to communicate in Chinese and provide informed consent; ix. is currently hospitalised in this geriatric rehabilitation ward and unlikely to be discharged within 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria for stroke patients:

• Individuals will be excluded if other causes of cognitive impairment are present, such as Alzheimer's disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score >16, severe hearing or visual impairment, severe complications following a stroke (e.g., limited comprehension and receptive aphasia, venous thrombosis), a history of severe medical conditions or current serious illnesses (e.g. myocardial infarction, use of a cardiac pacemaker or a defibrillator, organ failure, malignancy, mental diseases, other neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, having received thrombolytic therapy or surgery, joint replacement surgeries or fractures within the past six months), pregnant or lactating women; prior regular (at least three times/week) Tai Chi practice or other mind-body exercises (e.g., Yoga, Qigong, Ba Duanjin, or mindfulness training) within the past six months; and those participating in other clinical trials that might influence this study.

Inclusion criteria for caregivers:

i. age ≥ 18 years; ii. be able to communicate in Chinese and provide informed consent; iii. medically stable and physically able to provide support.

Exclusion criteria for caregivers:

i. impaired cognitive functions (Abbreviated Mental Test, AMT ≤ 7); ii. being a medical resident/trainee or a physical therapist; iii. having prior regular (at least three times/week) Tai Chi practice or other mind-body exercises (e.g., Yoga, Qigong, Ba Duanjin, or mindfulness training) within the past six months; iv. participating in other clinical trials that might influence affect this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sitting Tai Chi group; Participants in the sitting Tai Chi group will receive 12 weeks of 10-form sitting Tai Chi exercise training with a frequency of three days a week and 40 minutes a day, including 5 minutes warm-up, 30 minutes Tai Chi training, and 5 minutes cool-down. A registered nurse (RN) with experience with Tai Chi training and who participated in our previous study will lead the training session.	Other: Tai Chi; Five series of sitting Tai Chi exercises for stroke survivors with physical impairments, each with a target of strengthening the muscles for upper limb function and balance while taking into consideration survivors' physical limitations, were developed. Series 1 consisted of a 10-form sitting Tai Chi adapted from the 10-form Yang-style Wheelchair Tai Chi, which was offered for stroke survivors with minor weakness (upper limbs' muscle strength: 4 or 5). Series 2 to 5 were also ready to cater to the needs of stroke survivors with hemiparesis or hemiplegia (upper limbs' muscle strength: ≤3). Caregivers will be involved to ensure the safety of stroke participants, encourage their participation, and supervise them. Adherence to the treatment protocol will be recorded by a research assistant.
Other: Control group; Waiting list control group: Participants in the control group will receive usual care. That is, regular inpatient treatment and care, without additional rehabilitation treatment. At the end of the intervention follow-up assessment, they will be invited to participate in the sitting Tai Chi exercise led by the same nurse as well.	Other: Tai Chi; Five series of sitting Tai Chi exercises for stroke survivors with physical impairments, each with a target of strengthening the muscles for upper limb function and balance while taking into consideration survivors' physical limitations, were developed. Series 1 consisted of a 10-form sitting Tai Chi adapted from the 10-form Yang-style Wheelchair Tai Chi, which was offered for stroke survivors with minor weakness (upper limbs' muscle strength: 4 or 5). Series 2 to 5 were also ready to cater to the needs of stroke survivors with hemiparesis or hemiplegia (upper limbs' muscle strength: ≤3). Caregivers will be involved to ensure the safety of stroke participants, encourage their participation, and supervise them. Adherence to the treatment protocol will be recorded by a research assistant.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in the Mean Cognitive Function at 12 Weeks	Cognitive function will be measured using the MoCA scale, a cognitive screening instrument developed and validated to detect mild cognitive impairment.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Mean Upper Limb Function measured by FMT-UL at 12 Weeks	Upper limb function will be measured using Fugl-Meyer Test Upper Limb section (FMT-UL). FMT-UL will be used to evaluate upper extremity function. The scale includes eight items related to function of wrist and hand, evaluation results are on a 3-point scale ranging from 0 ('unable accomplish') to 2 ('completely accomplish'), and has a maximum score of 66. A higher score indicates better upper extremity function.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Mean Upper Limb Function measured by WMFT at 12 Weeks	Upper limb function will be measured using Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) . The WMFT was often used alongside the FMT-UL to provide a complementary description of upper limb function. It consists of 17 items including time, functional ability and strength domains. Items seven and 14 are strength test with recording the exact weight which the participants can afford.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Mean Balance Control measured by BBS at 12 Weeks	Balance control will be measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The 14 items BBS will be used to evaluate the ability to maintain positions, from sitting to standing, to close standing, and finally to standing on one leg. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, with a higher score indicates better balance control. The Chinese version of BBS has been reported with good reliability and validity (intra and inter-rater ICC: 0.968-0.985 and 0.992-0.998)	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Mean Balance Control measured by TIS at 12 Weeks	Balance control will be measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS). The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) was designed to assess the sitting balance and trunk control among stroke survivors. It has 17 items which consists of three subscales: static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance and coordination. The total score ranges from zero to 23 points, with a higher score indicating a better performance. It has 17 items which consists of three subscales: static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Mean Depressive Symptoms at 12 Weeks	The 15 items Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-15) will be used to assess depressive symptoms. Each item is scored in a dichotomous format: 1= ('yes'), 0= ('no') in response to symptoms of depression. The total score is summed (range 0-15). A higher score indicates a higher level of depressive symptoms. A score of nine or above indicates moderate or severe depression. The Chinese version of GDS-15 has demonstrated good validity and reliability (Cronbach's α: 0.78) (Chau et al., 2006).	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in the Mean Activities of Daily Living at 12 Weeks	The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) will be used to assess ADL. The scale consists of 10 items to score the ability of a person to care for himself which includes feeding, moving, and toileting. The total scores range from 0 to 100. A higher score suggests better ADL. The psychometric properties of the Chinese version of MBI is good (inter and intra rater ICC: 0.968～0.997 and 0.866～0.990).	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Change from Baseline in the Mean Quality of Life at 12 Weeks	QoL will be assessed using the Chinese version of Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale SS-QOL. The scale is specific to the activity and participation domains of the ICF. It includes 12 areas affected following a stroke, as covered by 49 items. For each item, there are five response options in which the score varies from one to five. Thus, the overall scores range from 49 (worst perception of QoL) to 245 (best perception of QoL). Higher scores indicate better QoL. The Chinese version of SS-QOL has been reported with acceptable validity and good reliability (Cronbach's α 0.93) (Lo et al., 2017).	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Stroke; Cognitive Dysfunction; Therapeutics; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities; Tai Ji
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025.537

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: The data could be shared basing on reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

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