Exploration on the Relationship Between Distinct Sarcopenia, Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitution, and Circadian Rhythm Patterns of Older Adults and Impact of Acupoint-stimulated Interventions
July 23, 2026 updated by: Yu-Ching HSU, Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and impact of digital/remote courses combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupoint-stimulated interventions, health education, and exercise on sarcopenia and sleep disturbances across distinct age groups.
By integrating multidisciplinary expertise encompassing TCM, geriatric medicine, geriatric health, community medicine, and epidemiology at Ministry of Health and Welfare Tainan Hospital, this project aims to explore the correlations among sarcopenia, sleep conditions, and TCM body constitution, while evaluating the feasibility of incorporating the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ) into anti-frailty screenings to establish an evidence-based, TCM-integrated intervention model.
A total of at least 360 participants will be recruited at Ministry of Health and Welfare Tainan Hospital across two distinct operational phases.
In the first phase, a comprehensive cross-sectional assessment will be conducted on 300 older adults aged 65 and above to establish a geriatric TCM body constitution database, utilizing 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the BCQ, and standard geriatric functional assessment scales (including SARC-F, Fried frailty index, ADL, IADL, WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D, mini nutritional assessment, ISI, PSQI, and ECOG score), with eligible and consenting participants referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG) based on physician assessment.
In the second phase, longitudinal interventional trials will be executed with 180 participants divided into three specific cohorts.
The sarcopenia cohort, comprising 60 older adults aged 65 and above, will undergo a 3-month intervention combining acupoint massage and the Vivifrail exercise program, with data evaluated at baseline, month 1, and month 3, followed by a final tracking period extending to month 4. The geriatric sleep disturbance cohort (60 older adults aged 65 and above) and the adult sleep disturbance cohort (60 younger adults aged 20-64), all presenting with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of 5 or higher, will participate in a 2-week curriculum consisting of sleep-related self-acupoint massage and sleep hygiene education, with clinical follow-ups scheduled at baseline, week 2, and week 6, a final tracking assessment at week 7, and intervention compliance monitoring conducted at week 3.
Study Overview
Status
Recruiting
Conditions
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
360
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
-
-
-
Tainan, Taiwan
- Recruiting
- Ministry of Health and Welfare Tainan Hospital
-
Contact:
- Study Coordinator
- Phone Number: +886-6-2200055
- Email: tnhpcm2017@gmail.com
-
-
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
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be able to understand and sign the informed consent form.
- For the geriatric cohorts: Individuals aged 65 and above.
- For the adult cohort: Individuals aged between 20 and 64.
- For the sleep disturbance cohorts: Presenting with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of 5 or higher.
- For the sarcopenia cohort: Evaluated and diagnosed with sarcopenia according to standard geriatric metrics.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals with severe cognitive impairment, advanced dementia, or inability to communicate and follow instructions.
- Individuals with unstable medical conditions, acute cardiovascular events, or severe systemic diseases that preclude safe participation in exercise programs.
- Individuals with open wounds, active infections, or fractures at the targeted acupoint areas.
- Any other conditions that, in the judgment of the investigator, would jeopardize candidate safety or compliance.
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: Supportive Care
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Arm A: Vivifrail + Acupoint Massage
Older adults aged 65 and above with sarcopenia who receive the 12-week Vivifrail exercise program (45-60 minutes per session, daily) combined with traditional Chinese medicine acupoint massage.
Longitudinal data tracking is conducted at baseline, month 1, month 3, and month 4.
|
A 12-week customized multicomponent physical exercise program designed for frailty prevention and physical function enhancement.
A comprehensive cross-sectional assessment for 300 older adults, including 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ), and standard geriatric functional assessment scales.
Eligible and consenting participants are referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG).
|
|
Active Comparator: Arm B: Vivifrail Only
Older adults aged 65 and above with sarcopenia who receive the 12-week Vivifrail exercise program alone (45-60 minutes per session, daily) without the acupoint massage component.
Longitudinal data tracking is conducted at baseline, month 1, month 3, and month 4.
|
A 12-week customized multicomponent physical exercise program designed for frailty prevention and physical function enhancement.
A comprehensive cross-sectional assessment for 300 older adults, including 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ), and standard geriatric functional assessment scales.
Eligible and consenting participants are referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG).
|
|
Experimental: Arm C: Geriatric Sleep Education + Acupoint Massage
Older adults aged 65 and above with sleep disturbances (PSQI >= 5) who receive a 2-week digital course on sleep hygiene education combined with sleep-related self-acupoint massage (20-30 minutes per week).
Data are evaluated at baseline, week 2, week 3, week 6, and week 7.
|
A 2-week digital/remote curriculum focusing on sleep hygiene education and sleep-related self-care guidelines.
A comprehensive cross-sectional assessment for 300 older adults, including 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ), and standard geriatric functional assessment scales.
Eligible and consenting participants are referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG).
|
|
Active Comparator: Arm D: Geriatric Sleep Education Only
Older adults aged 65 and above with sleep disturbances (PSQI >= 5) who receive the 2-week digital course on sleep hygiene education alone (20-30 minutes per week) without self-acupoint massage.
Data are evaluated at baseline, week 2, week 3, week 6, and week 7.
|
A 2-week digital/remote curriculum focusing on sleep hygiene education and sleep-related self-care guidelines.
A comprehensive cross-sectional assessment for 300 older adults, including 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ), and standard geriatric functional assessment scales.
Eligible and consenting participants are referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG).
|
|
Active Comparator: Arm E: Adult Sleep Education Only
Younger adults aged 20-64 with sleep disturbances (PSQI >= 5) who receive the 2-week digital course on sleep hygiene education alone (20-30 minutes per week) without self-acupoint massage.
Data are evaluated at baseline, week 2, week 3, week 6, and week 7.
|
A 2-week digital/remote curriculum focusing on sleep hygiene education and sleep-related self-care guidelines.
A comprehensive cross-sectional assessment for 300 older adults, including 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ), and standard geriatric functional assessment scales.
Eligible and consenting participants are referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG).
|
|
Experimental: Arm F: Adult Sleep Education + Acupoint Massage
Younger adults aged 20-64 with sleep disturbances (PSQI >= 5) who receive the 2-week digital course on sleep hygiene education combined with sleep-related self-acupoint massage (20-30 minutes per week).
Data are evaluated at baseline, week 2, week 3, week 6, and week 7.
|
A 2-week digital/remote curriculum focusing on sleep hygiene education and sleep-related self-care guidelines.
A comprehensive cross-sectional assessment for 300 older adults, including 7-day actigraphy, scientific tongue and pulse diagnosis, the simplified Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ), and standard geriatric functional assessment scales.
Eligible and consenting participants are referred for overnight polysomnography (PSG).
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Change from Baseline in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Score (Range: 0-21, Higher Scores Indicate Poorer Sleep Quality)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 2, Week 3, Week 6, and Week 7
|
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-reported questionnaire used to evaluate sleep quality.
It consists of 19 individual items, generating 7 component scores that each range from 0 to 3. The total global score ranges from 0 to 21, where the minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 21.
Higher total global scores indicate poorer sleep quality.
|
Baseline, Week 2, Week 3, Week 6, and Week 7
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
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)
May 19, 2023
Primary Completion (Estimated)
December 31, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 31, 2027
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
July 16, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
July 16, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
July 20, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
July 27, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
July 23, 2026
Last Verified
July 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- A-ER-111-447
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
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.