Acute Effect of Exergaming Based Sitting Tai Chi

NCT07546916 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ATC
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examines whether a single session of exergaming-based seated Tai Chi can acutely improve working memory, executive function, and prefrontal cortical efficiency in younger and older adults, compared with seated stretching. Using a within-subject crossover design, 40 participants aged 18-30 years and 60-75 years will complete both conditions in counterbalanced order on separate days. Cognitive performance will be assessed with Flanker and n-back tasks, while prefrontal activity will be recorded with fNIRS over the dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and frontopolar prefrontal cortex. Neural efficiency will be estimated by integrating task performance with task-evoked oxygenated hemoglobin responses. The Tai Chi intervention is a 40-minute seated, exergame-guided 12-form routine preceded and followed by brief warm-up and cool-down periods. The control condition is a time-matched seated stretching programme without Tai Chi-specific movements or game feedback. Both conditions will be delivered at light-to-moderate intensity and supervised for safety and adherence. The study tests whether acute exergaming-based seated Tai Chi produces greater post-intervention improvements in cognitive performance and more efficient prefrontal activation than stretching, and whether these effects differ by age group. Findings may clarify how a feasible seated mind-body exergame influences acute cognitive and neural responses across the adult lifespan.

Conditions

Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Prefrontal cortical activation during inhibitory control (Flanker task)

  Prefrontal cortical activity (oxyhemoglobin concentration, µM) will be recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during the Eriksen Flanker Task, which assesses inhibitory control. Regions of interest include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), and frontopolar prefrontal cortex (FPC). Measurements will be taken before and immediately after a single session of exergaming-based seated Tai Chi and a single session of seated stretching in a crossover design. Data will be reported separately for each condition. Unit of Measure: µM (micromolar) oxyhemoglobin concentration.

  Baseline (pre-session) and immediately post-session on 2 consecutive days (Day 1 and 2).

• Prefrontal cortical activation during working memory (n-back task)

  Prefrontal cortical activity (oxyhemoglobin concentration, µM) will be recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during the n-back Task, which assesses working memory. Regions of interest include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), and frontopolar prefrontal cortex (FPC). Measurements will be taken before and immediately after a single session of exergaming-based seated Tai Chi and a single session of seated stretching in a crossover design. Data will be reported separately for each condition. Unit of Measure: µM (micromolar) oxyhemoglobin concentration.

  Baseline (pre-session) and immediately post-session on 2 consecutive days (Day 1 and Day 2)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Inhibitory Control Performance on the Eriksen Flanker Task - reaction time

  Baseline (Pre-Session) and Immediately Post-Session on 2 consecutive days (Day 1 and Day 2)

• Working Memory Performance on the n-back Task - reaction time

  Baseline (Pre-Session) and Immediately Post-Session on 2 consecutive days (Day 1 and Day 2).

• Title: Working Memory Performance on the n-back Task - Accuracy

  Baseline (Pre-Session) and immediately post-session on 2 consecutive days (Day 1 and Day 2).

• Inhibitory Control Performance on the Eriksen Flanker Task - Accuracy

  Baseline (Pre-Session) and immediately post-session on 2 consecutive days (Day 1 and Day 2)

Study Arms (2)

Seated stretching

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the seated stretching condition, participants will complete a series of structured, low-intensity exercise program that would contain comparable social interaction and enjoyment without providing any strength and balance training benefits of Tai Chi. This will match in overall duration and approximate movement amplitude to the Tai Chi sequence but without game-based feedback or Tai Chi-specific components.

Behavioral: Seated Stretching

Exergaming based sitting Tai Chi

EXPERIMENTAL

An acute exergaming-based seated Tai Chi protocol will be adapted from a newly developed 12-week training programme by our team, and will be further aligned with acute Tai Chi session parameters reported by a previous Tai Chi study, including comparable total duration, work-rest structure, and target light-to-moderate intensity. Participants will perform upper-limb and trunk movements derived from traditional Tai Chi forms, adapted for a seated posture and integrated into an interactive exergame environment that provides visual feedback and performance scoring to enhance engagement and standardize practice. Movements will be paced using on-screen cues and visual and auditory signals to control tempo across participants.

Behavioral: Exergaming based sitting Tai Chi

Interventions

Exergaming based sitting Tai Chi BEHAVIORAL

An acute exergaming-based seated Tai Chi protocol will be adapted from a newly developed 12-week training programme by our team, and will be further aligned with acute Tai Chi session parameters reported by a previous Tai Chi study, including comparable total duration, work-rest structure, and target light-to-moderate intensity. Participants will perform upper-limb and trunk movements derived from traditional Tai Chi forms, adapted for a seated posture and integrated into an interactive exergame environment that provides visual feedback and performance scoring to enhance engagement and standardize practice. Movements will be paced using on-screen cues and visual and auditory signals to control tempo across participants.

Also known as: Active control

Exergaming based sitting Tai Chi

Seated Stretching BEHAVIORAL

In the seated stretching condition, participants will complete a series of structured, low-intensity exercise program that would contain comparable social interaction and enjoyment without providing any strength and balance training benefits of Tai Chi. This will match in overall duration and approximate movement amplitude to the Tai Chi sequence but without game-based feedback or Tai Chi-specific components.

Also known as: Intervention

Seated stretching

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Are aged 18-30 years (young adult group) or 60-75 years (older adults)
• Have no current regular participation (e.g., ≥1 session/week) in Tai Chi, martial arts, or other mind-body exercise (e.g., yoga or qigong) in the last 3-6 months
• Have no self-reported or clinically documented history of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or other neurological (e.g., stroke) or psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) known to affect cognition
• Score within the normal range on the Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) based on established age- and education-adjusted cutoffs
• Are medically stable, with or without controlled chronic conditions (e.g., controlled hypertension or diabetes)
• Are able to tolerate light-to-moderate seated exercise (Chinese version of Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire score = 0)
• Have no significant sensory impairment (e.g., vision) not corrected by assistive devices (e.g., glasses)
• Are not engaged in regular structured exercise involving moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (e.g., brisk walking, running, or racquet sports) more than two times per week over the preceding three months

You may not qualify if:

• Have medical conditions that may interfere with safe participation, including pacemaker implantation or prosthetic devices
• Have serious orthopedic or cardiovascular disorders that could affect participation in exergaming training
• Have significant motor or balance impairment that would prevent performing basic seated arm and trunk movements
• Are currently undergoing other clinical trials or structured exercise or cognitive training programmes \>2 times/week during the preceding three months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hong Kong Metropolitan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Exergaming Research Centre, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Wang H, Guo Y, Fan H, Chen Z, Liu S, Zhao L, Shi Y. The effects of an acute Tai Chi on emotional memory and prefrontal cortex activation: a fNIRS study. Front Behav Neurosci. 2025 Jan 22;18:1520508. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1520508. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 39911243 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Methods

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Tai Wa Liu

  School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Chun Yan Ho

CONTACT

852 + 39708714; twliu@hkmu.edu.hk

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 8, 2026
• First Posted: April 23, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027
• Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: SAP
• Time Frame: After the study published.

Locations

HK (1)