NCT03086772

Effects of Tai Chi on Multisite Pain and Brain Functions in Older Adults

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 54 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Boston · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The main purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week Tai Chi program for community-dwelling older adults with chronic multisite pain and a history of falling. In addition, the investigators examined the effects of Tai Chi on pain characteristics, cognition, physical function, gait mobility, levels of pain-related biomarkers, fear of falling and rate of falls in these older adults.

Detailed description

Older adults aged ≥65 years with multisite pain who reported falling in the past year or current use of an assistive device were recruited from Boston area communities. Participants were randomized to either a Tai Chi (N=28) or a light physical exercise (N=26) program, offered twice weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability of the 12-week Tai Chi/light exercise program. Secondary outcomes included pain characteristics (pain severity and pain interference), cognition (attention and executive function), physical function (walking speed, strength, and balance), gait mobility (singe-task and dual-task gait), levels of pain-related markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and beta endorphin), fear of falling, and rate of falls.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Tai Chi	Individuals in the Tai Chi intervention group will participate in a 12-week Tai Chi program (one hour per class, two classes per week, plus home practice for 12 weeks) led by an experienced Tai Chi Instructor, assisted by an undergraduate research assistant.
BEHAVIORAL	Light Exercise	Individuals in the exercise control group will meet for a twice weekly class involving walking, weight training, stretching and health education (one hour per class, two classes per week for 12 weeks, taught by a trained graduate research assistant, assisted by an undergraduate research assistant.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-05-01
• Primary completion: 2017-04-01
• Completion: 2017-04-01
• First posted: 2017-03-22
• Last updated: 2018-10-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States