Exergaming-based Sitting Tai Chi for Sarcopenia and/or Frailty
Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Sarcopenia in Elderly, Frailty at Older Adults
In brief
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of an exergaming-based sitting Tai Chi program on muscle strength, physical function, cognition, and psychosocial outcomes in older adults living in residential care facilities who are at risk of sarcopenia and/or prefrailty. Eligible participants aged 60 years or older will be identified using simple screening criteria for sarcopenia and prefrailty and will not meet full diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia or frailty. A total of 152 participants will be randomly assigned to either an individually supervised exergaming-based sitting Tai Chi intervention or a group-based general health education control, each delivered twice weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is dominant-hand grip strength, a core indicator of sarcopenia-related muscle weakness. Key secondary outcomes include sitting balance and functional reach assessed by the Modified Functional Reach Test, with additional secondary measures of muscle mass, lower-extremity function, activities of daily living, reaction time and health-related quality of life. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. The findings will provide preliminary evidence on whether chair-based exergaming Tai Chi can be integrated into routine residential care to support healthy aging and functional independence.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07616219
- Run by
- Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- People needed
- 152
- Starts
- 2026-03-01
- Expected to finish
- 2027-12-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-07-01
Who can join
Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- aged ≥60 years;
- at risk of sarcopenia and/or prefrailty. At risk of sarcopenia is defined as meeting at least one of the following criteria: SARC-F (Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls) score ≥4, calf circumference <34 cm for men or <33 cm for women, while prefrailty is defined as a Fried Frailty Phenotype score of 1-2;
- score ≥7 on the Chinese (Hong Kong) version of the Abbreviated Mental Test;
- can stand independently for assessment; and
- can understand and follow intervention and assessment instructions.
You may not qualify if…
- absence of full diagnostic criteria is required; therefore residents with confirmed sarcopenia as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 or confirmed frailty as defined by the Fried Frailty Phenotype (score 3-5) will be excluded;
- severe cognitive, sensory, or communication impairments not adequately corrected with aids;
- uncontrolled medical, neurological, orthopaedic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric conditions that preclude safe participation;
- prior experience of regular practice of Tai Chi >1 month; or
- current participation in another clinical trial.
- absence of full diagnostic criteria is required; therefore, residents with confirmed sarcopenia as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 or confirmed frailty as defined by the Fried Frailty Phenotype (score 3-5) will be excluded;
- severe cognitive, sensory, or communication impairments not adequately corrected with aids;
- uncontrolled medical, neurological, orthopedic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric conditions that preclude safe participation;
- prior regular practice of Tai Chi for more than 1 month; or
- current participation in another clinical trial.
Where it is running
- Exergaming Research Centre, Hong Kong Metropolitan University — Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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