TechSAge Tele Tai Chi for People Aging With Mobility Disabilities

NCT04696887 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: H19560
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study uses videoconferencing to deliver an evidence-based exercise program, Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis, to adults aging with long-term mobility disabilities. In the 8-week Tele Tai Chi intervention, participants will use a tablet or computer to join a small-group, online class (1hr, twice weekly) from home; during each session, participants will exercise as a group along with the pre-recorded video lessons and have the opportunity for social interaction (via video chat) before and after class. The study will examine the effects of the Tele Tai Chi program on physical activity and social connectedness for adults aging with long-term mobility disabilities, a population likely to experience barriers to exercise participation.

Conditions

Aging; Disability Physical

Keywords

mind-body exercise; tai chi; technology

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Physical activity

  Change in physical activity (mode, frequency, duration, intensity) as measured by the leisure activity dimension of the Physical Activity Scale for Persons with Physical Disabilities1, a self-report measure of physical activity (Range 0-98.67; Higher score means greater physical activity. Lower score means less physical activity). Self-report completion of Tai Chi practice (Range 1-4; Higher score indicates greater frequency of practice. Lower score indicates less frequent of practice).

  Baseline, Week 1-8 of intervention, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

• Social connectedness

  Change in perception of social connectedness (loneliness), as measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8)3 (Range 8-32; Higher score indicates a greater degree of loneliness. Lower score reflects a lower degree of loneliness), Social Isolation Questionnaire4 (Social Disconnectedness Scale, Social Isolation Scale, Perceived Social Isolation scale; Range 15-67; Higher score indicates a greater degree of loneliness. Lower score reflects a lower degree of loneliness).

  Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Exercise Self-Efficacy

  Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

• Falls Efficacy

  Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

• Depression

  Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

• Quality of Life (QOL)

  Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

• Pain Interference

  Baseline, PPost-Intervention (8 week assessment), 1 month follow-up

Other Outcomes (2)

• Technology Acceptance

  Baseline, Post-Intervention (8 week assessment)

• Physical Activity Class Satisfaction

  Post-Intervention (8 week assessment)

Study Arms (1)

Tele Tai Chi

EXPERIMENTAL

8-week Tele Tai Chi intervention

Behavioral: Tele Tai Chi Intervention for Persons Aging with Long-Term Mobility Disabilities

Interventions

Tele Tai Chi Intervention for Persons Aging with Long-Term Mobility Disabilities BEHAVIORAL

• 8-week Tele Tai Chi intervention, participants will use a tablet or computer to join a small-group, online class (1hr, twice weekly) from home; during each session, participants will exercise as a group along with the pre-recorded video lessons and have the opportunity for social interaction (via video chat) before and after class.

Also known as: Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis

Tele Tai Chi

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Be between the ages of 60-80
• Self-identify as having a mobility disability, use a mobility aid (i.e., cane, crutches, wheelchair, walker, or scooter) or have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs
• Mobility disability for at least 10 years
• Passing score on Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or letter from physician stating approved to participate in the intervention
• Passing score on Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS)-score 26 and above included
• Passing score of brief Technology Proficiency Screen (e.g., be able to do send and receive email)
• Have access to a webcam on computer or tablet
• Plan to have internet access for six months from screening
• Live in the US
• Be conversational in English
• Available to attend 1 hr online class 2x a week for 8 weeks

You may not qualify if:

• Blind or deaf
• Significant Tai Chi practice during the past 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Georgia Institute of Technology: lead
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: collaborator
• University of Georgia: collaborator
• Tai Chi for Health Institute: collaborator
• National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation

Atlanta, Georgia, 30318, United States

Location

Related Publications (15)

• Washburn RA, Zhu W, McAuley E, Frogley M, Figoni SF. The physical activity scale for individuals with physical disabilities: development and evaluation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Feb;83(2):193-200. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.27467.

  PMID: 11833022 RESULT

• 2Cunningham, G. B. (2020). Development of the Physical Activity Class Satisfaction Questionnaire (PACSQ). Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 11(3), 161-176.

  RESULT

• Hays RD, DiMatteo MR. A short-form measure of loneliness. J Pers Assess. 1987 Spring;51(1):69-81. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa5101_6.

  PMID: 3572711 RESULT

• Cornwell EY, Waite LJ. Measuring social isolation among older adults using multiple indicators from the NSHAP study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009 Nov;64 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):i38-46. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbp037. Epub 2009 Jun 9.

  PMID: 19508982 RESULT

• Kroll T, Kehn M, Ho PS, Groah S. The SCI Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES): development and psychometric properties. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2007 Aug 30;4:34. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-4-34.

  PMID: 17760999 RESULT

• Tinetti ME, Richman D, Powell L. Falls efficacy as a measure of fear of falling. J Gerontol. 1990 Nov;45(6):P239-43. doi: 10.1093/geronj/45.6.p239.

  PMID: 2229948 RESULT

• Finlayson M, Peterson EW, Cho C. Pilot study of a fall risk management program for middle aged and older adults with MS. NeuroRehabilitation. 2009;25(2):107-15. doi: 10.3233/NRE-2009-0505.

  PMID: 19822941 RESULT

• Walker JE, Howland J. Falls and fear of falling among elderly persons living in the community: occupational therapy interventions. Am J Occup Ther. 1991 Feb;45(2):119-22. doi: 10.5014/ajot.45.2.119.

  PMID: 2035588 RESULT

• Pilkonis PA, Choi SW, Reise SP, Stover AM, Riley WT, Cella D; PROMIS Cooperative Group. Item banks for measuring emotional distress from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS(R)): depression, anxiety, and anger. Assessment. 2011 Sep;18(3):263-83. doi: 10.1177/1073191111411667. Epub 2011 Jun 21.

  PMID: 21697139 RESULT

• Siebens HC, Tsukerman D, Adkins RH, Kahan J, Kemp B. Correlates of a Single-Item Quality-of-Life Measure in People Aging with Disabilities. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Dec;94(12):1065-74. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000298.

  PMID: 25888654 RESULT

• Amtmann D, Cook KF, Jensen MP, Chen WH, Choi S, Revicki D, Cella D, Rothrock N, Keefe F, Callahan L, Lai JS. Development of a PROMIS item bank to measure pain interference. Pain. 2010 Jul;150(1):173-182. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.04.025.

  PMID: 20554116 RESULT

• Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13, 319-340.

  RESULT

• Venkatesh, V. (2000). Determinants of perceived ease of use: Integrating perceived behavioral control, computer anxiety and enjoyment into the technology acceptance model. Information Systems Research, 11, 342-365.

  RESULT

• Venkatesh, V., & Bala, H. (2008). Technology Acceptance Model 3 and a research agenda on interventions. Decision Sciences, 39(2), 273-315. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.2008.00192.x

  RESULT

• Remillard ET, Mitzner TL, Mumma KT. Tele Tai Chi for people aging with mobility disabilities: Novel methodology and structured adaptation approach. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2025 Aug 28;47:101543. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2025.101543. eCollection 2025 Oct.

  PMID: 40969304 DERIVED

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Research Scientist

Model Details: All participants will be screened and assigned to the same condition in a phased/rolling enrollment.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2020
• First Posted: January 6, 2021
• Study Start: February 22, 2021
• Primary Completion: October 3, 2023
• Study Completion: October 3, 2023
• Last Updated: October 17, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Locations

US (1)