Effects of Tai Chi on Frailty in Elderly Adults

NCT01126723 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: 10-005R37AG025037
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is determine the effects of Tai Chi exercise, as compared to an education-based control intervention, on cardiovascular and balance system function in older people at risk of developing frailty. We hypothesize that long-term Tai Chi training will improve specific nonlinear properties associated of cardiovascular and balance dynamics in this population.

Conditions

Frailty

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Frailty Index

  Frailty is defined as the combination of unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slow walking speed, and muscular weakness.

  post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Tai Chi group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Tai Chi

Educational Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Other: Education-Control

Interventions

Tai Chi OTHER

The Tai Chi intervention will consist of a 12 week, instructor-led, group-based Tai Chi training program (two, one-hour sessions per week).

Tai Chi group

Education-Control OTHER

The Education-Control intervention consists of a 12 week, instructor-led attention control program consisting of health education and mind-body breathing exercises (two, one-hour sessions per week)

Educational Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 70 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Men and women over age 70 will be included if they are able to stand and walk unassisted, are free of any acute or unstable medical conditions, and are able to understand directions and participate in the protocol.

You may not qualify if:

• Potential subjects will be excluded 1) if they cannot stand and ambulate unassisted, 2) are experiencing any symptomatic cardiovascular or respiratory disease, or have 3) a myocardial infarction or stroke within 6 months, 4) painful arthritis, spinal stenosis, amputation, painful foot lesions, or neuropathy that limits balance and mobility, 5) systolic BP above 160 or diastolic BP above 100 mm Hg, 6) a cardiac pacemaker, 7) Parkinson's Disease or other neuromuscular disorder, 8) metastatic cancer or immunosuppressive therapy, or 9) have significant visual impairment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hebrew SeniorLife: lead
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): collaborator
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center

Roslindale, Massachusetts, 02131, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Frailty

Interventions

Tai Ji

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Lewis Lipsitz
• Organization: Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife

lipsitz@hsl.harvard.edu

617-971-5318

Study Officials

• Lewis Lipsitz, MD

  Hebrew Rehabilitation Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 18, 2010
• First Posted: May 20, 2010
• Study Start: September 1, 2010
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2013
• Study Completion: September 1, 2013
• Last Updated: December 19, 2023
• Results First Posted: January 30, 2015

Record last verified: 2023-12

Locations

US (1)