Virtual Tai ji Quan Exercise to Prevent Falls in Older Adults

Launched by OREGON RESEARCH INSTITUTE · Apr 10, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at two different exercise programs to see if they can help prevent falls in older adults who live in the community. Falls can be a serious concern for people aged 65 to 90, especially if they have fallen before or struggle with getting up from a seated position, which is measured by a simple test called the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test. The goal is to find out if these exercise programs can make a difference in reducing the number of falls.

To participate in this trial, you need to be between 65 and 90 years old and have experienced a fall in the last year or have difficulty with mobility. However, if you have certain health conditions like dementia, can't walk independently, or have not been cleared by a doctor to exercise, you won’t be eligible. Participants can expect to be part of a group where they will engage in structured exercise routines, and they should be ready to commit to the program for its duration. If you're interested, this could be a great opportunity to stay active and potentially improve your balance and strength while helping researchers learn more about fall prevention in older adults.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • age between 65 and 90 years and
• • having had 1 or more falls in the preceding 12 months or having a score ≥12 seconds on the Timed Up\&Go (TUG) test.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • showing a diagnosis of dementia or significant cognitive impairment, as indicated by a score of \<24 on the Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE, range: 0-30);
• • being unable to ambulate independently for household distances; (c) having no medical clearance;
• • having participated in any regular and structured tai ji quan-based or multicomponent exercise programs (≥2 times weekly) in the preceding 6 months;
• • having any physical condition that would preclude participation in moderate-intensity exercise; and
• • being unwilling to commit to the duration of the intervention or accept group assignment.