Using Mölkky for Community-dwelling Older Adults

NCT07025967 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HongKongPU_Mölkky
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Physical activity is known to be a protector against major diseases. However, they usually do closed-skilled types, like jogging, swimming, Tai Chi. Our research showed that older adults benefit more from engaging in open-skilled activities. Mölkky is a Finnish throwing game that is considered an open-skilled activity. The project investigates the benefits of Mölkky as an open-skilled physical activity and home activity for older adults.

Conditions

Older Adults Without Any Specific Clinical Condition

Keywords

Older adults; Physical activity; Physical functions; Cognitive functions; Well-being

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Chinese Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop)

  The Chinese Stroop is used to assess participants' selective attention and cognitive flexibility. There are three sub-tests in the Stroop, identifying color of dots (Stroop I), identifying the words under incongruent conditions (Stroop II) and identifying the color of words under incongruent conditions (Stroop III). The time spent on each sub-test and errors which are not self-corrected are recorded. Time interference score is calculated by the formula: Interference = Stroop III - \[(Stroop I + Stroop II) / 2\], a lower time interference score indicates better performance. The Chinese Stroop has good reliability and validity.

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA)

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

• Two-Minute Step Test (TMST)

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

• Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

• Geriatric Depression Scale Cantonese Version (GDS-C)

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

• EuroQol-five Dimensions Questionnaire - Hong Kong Chinese version (EQ-5D-5L)

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

Other Outcomes (1)

• Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES)

  Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Mölkky group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will join the Mölkky.

Behavioral: Mölkky

Home activity group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive home activities including closed-skilled exercises and cognitive training.

Behavioral: Home activity

Interventions

Mölkky BEHAVIORAL

The Mölkky group participants receive two-hour weekly or bi-weekly Mölkky training sessions at their elderly community centers. In the sessions, participants are divided into two teams, taking turns throwing a wooden pin called the Mölkky to hit 12 smaller skittles. The fallen skittles are placed upright where they landed after each turn. The first team that reaches exactly 50 points wins.

Mölkky group

Home activity BEHAVIORAL

The participants in the home program receive weekly visits by social workers, physiotherapists, or occupational therapists at their homes for an activity regime including closed-skilled exercises and cognitive training. The closed-skilled exercises included stretching, elastic band exercises and functional exercises like tandem standing and bridging. Cognitive training included reality orientation, memory exercises, calculation, and mind-body exercises like Baduanjin.

Home activity group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• aged 60 or above,
• having no known pre-existing impairments that would prevent them from physical exercises, and
• had no known terminal disease leading to a life expectancy of less than one year.

You may not qualify if:

• cognitive impairment that makes them unable to complete the assessments, and
• a history of significant cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease or musculoskeletal dysfunction or exhibited steady hypertension (160/90 mmHg or above) that places them at risk of participating in an exercise program as determined by the centers

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Karen Liu

  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: A pilot study with a two-group, non-randomized controlled trial design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2025
• First Posted: June 18, 2025
• Study Start: August 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2026
• Study Completion: May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: December 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

HK (1)