Tai Chi and Laughing Therapy for Improving Functions of Frail Older Adults (AA project)

Chungnam National University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Frailty

Treatments: Behavioral: Laughing therapy; Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05629728

ChungnamNU4

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goals of this study are to examine the physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life among frail elderly residing in the community

Full description

This randomized clinical trial recruited 150 frail older adults, assigned to either the intervention groups (Tai Chi vs. Laughing therapy) or the wait-list control group. Tai Chi intervention provided to the Tai Chi group for 12 weeks with 12-week follow-up and pretest and posttest measures will be conducted. Laughing therapy intervention provided 10 weekly sessions for 12 weeks.

The primary outcome is the function variables (physical function of balance, flexibility, mobility; cognitive function of MOCA-K) The secondary outcome is quality of life measured by SF36, and healthy aging measured by healthy aging scale.

Enrollment: 150 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• being frail (3 out of the following 5 criteria): feeling fatigued, difficulty climbing 10 stairs without help, difficulty walking 300m without help, more than 5 chronic illness, weight loss 5 % or more past 1-5 years
• living in the community
• able to participate in Tai Chi program twice a week

Exclusion criteria

• participated in any formal exercise program past 6 months
• not have transportation to come to the class

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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150 participants in 3 patient groups

social interaction based intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Laughing therapy group received 10 sessions, weekly, 60 min per session led by a certified LT instructor

Treatment:

Behavioral: Laughing therapy

frail elderly-WC

No Intervention group

Description:

control group received no intervention for 12 weeks, and will be provided the chance to participate in Tai Chi program if they choose.

Exercise based intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Sun style Tai Chi program was provided twice per week, one hour per session for 12 weeks by a certified TC instructor

Treatment:

Behavioral: Tai Chi exercise