Effect of Baduanjin on Functional Performance in Pre-Frail/Frail Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT04549103

Last Updated: 2024-02-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 58 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2023-11-14

Brief Summary

The aim for this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a 16-week realistic community-delivered Baduanjin training program compared to a waitlist control intervention, in improving functional outcomes among pre-frail and frail older adults in Singapore. It is hypothesized that participants that receive 16-week of BDJ training will have significant improvement in physical function (including balance, muscle strength, and endurance); alleviate exhaustion; reduce risk of falling and fear of falling; potentially reverse frailty; reduce depression; and improve quality of life, potentially with greater improvements in area(s) for individuals with lower baseline measures. Whereas, participants in the waitlist control group, will have insignificant changes to their baseline measures.

Conditions

Frailty; Frail Elderly Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Intervention Group

Intervention group will receive the 16-week Baduanjin exercise intervention.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Baduanjin exercise program

Intervention Type: OTHER

Baduanjin (BDJ), also known as Eight-Section Brocades, is one of the forms of traditional Chinese Qigong exercises, characterized by symmetrical physical posture, movements, mindfulness, and breathing. Its primary focus is on the release of 'Qi' or internal body energy with the intent of improving health outcomes. BDJ encompasses eight simple movements involving combinations of postures, meditation, slow relaxing movements, and breathing exercises. It is a low intensity exercise, which have been found to improve range of motion, strength and general health. The simplicity and low intensity level is ideal for older adults to practice at home using instructional videos.

Control Group

Control group will not receive the exercise intervention, but they will attend four education classes about managing their health status.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Baduanjin exercise program

Baduanjin (BDJ), also known as Eight-Section Brocades, is one of the forms of traditional Chinese Qigong exercises, characterized by symmetrical physical posture, movements, mindfulness, and breathing. Its primary focus is on the release of 'Qi' or internal body energy with the intent of improving health outcomes. BDJ encompasses eight simple movements involving combinations of postures, meditation, slow relaxing movements, and breathing exercises. It is a low intensity exercise, which have been found to improve range of motion, strength and general health. The simplicity and low intensity level is ideal for older adults to practice at home using instructional videos.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Pre-frail and frail adults aged 55 years and above
• Able to ambulate (move about) without personal assistance and has no other physical limitations affecting participation and adherence
• Able to understand basic instructions
• Generally sedentary lifestyle

Exclusion Criteria

• Participating in other intervention studies
• Perform regular moderate to vigorous intensity exercise
• Perform regular Taichi or Qigong exercise
• Have severe audio-visual impairment
• Diagnosed with cognitive impairment (e.g. dementia, Alzheimer's Disease) and/or history of neurological disorder (e.g. cerebral palsy, Parkinson's Disease)
• Diagnosed with postural hypotension (have a drop of 20mmHg systolic blood pressure, or a drop of 10mmHg diastolic blood pressure within two to five minutes of standing up, or if standing causes signs and symptoms)
• Unable to participate for the full duration of the study
• Unable to come to the training site by himself/herself or by the help of caregivers
• Not suitable to participate in exercise as deemed by a medical doctor

• Minimum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Tsao Foundation

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Geriatric Education and Research Institute

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Yong-en Care Centre

Singapore, , Singapore

Countries

Singapore

References

Liu X, Seah JWT, Pang BWJ, Tsao MA, Gu F, Ng WC, Tay JYR, Ng TP, Wee SL. A single-arm feasibility study of community-delivered Baduanjin (Qigong practice of the eight Brocades) training for frail older adults. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2020 Jul 21;6:105. doi: 10.1186/s40814-020-00649-3. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 32699644 (View on PubMed)

Tou NX, Goh SF, Harding S, Tsao MA, Ng TP, Wee SL. Effectiveness of community-based Baduanjin exercise intervention for older adults with varying frailty status: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2024 Oct 10;21(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s11556-024-00363-6.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 39390362 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

TCMG BDJ RCT

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id