NCT07497529

WhatsApp Radio Taiso Exercise Program for Adults Aged 60+

The Effect of the WhatsApp-Based Radio Taiso Exercise Program on Exercise Habits, Physical Performance, and Quality of Life in Individuals Aged 60 and Over

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Ondokuz Mayıs University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this research is to examine the contribution of the Radio Taiso exercise program, offered via the WhatsApp application, to the process of establishing exercise habits in individuals aged 60 and over, and to evaluate the effects of this intervention on physical performance and quality of life. The study investigates the usability of WhatsApp, a digital platform, as a support tool in developing exercise habits. Furthermore, it aims to reveal the effects of the traditional Radio Taiso exercise model, widely practiced in Japan, one of the longest-living societies in the world, on the physical performance and quality of life of older adults.

Detailed description

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of Radio Taiso exercises, conducted via the WhatsApp application, on exercise habits, physical performance, and quality of life in individuals over 60 years of age. Establishing and maintaining regular exercise habits in the elderly is a fundamental component of healthy aging. However, low participation in exercise and difficulties in developing these habits constitute a significant problem. Digital communication tools have the potential to offer supportive and sustainable interventions for health behaviors in the elderly. This study is important because it examines the role of Radio Taiso, a short-duration, low-intensity, and easy-to-learn exercise model, delivered via WhatsApp, a digital platform, in establishing exercise habits. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of accessible and sustainable exercise programs for the elderly. The fact that Radio Taiso exercises, considered one of the secrets to the longevity of the Japanese, one of the longest-living societies in the world, will be applied and evaluated in the Turkish population highlights another important aspect of the study. Radio Taiso exercises are a full-body exercise program consisting of low-to-moderate intensity, rhythmic, and controlled movements. The exercises do not involve sudden, strenuous, or high-load movements and are tailored to the individual's physical capacity. The program consists of short-duration, equipment-free exercises that can be safely performed on elderly individuals. The short duration of the Radio Taiso exercises used in this study is important for habit formation, their rhythm is important for memorability, and their WhatsApp-based nature is important for sustainability. The fact that Radio Taiso exercises largely resemble gymnastic movements performed in physical education classes is thought to facilitate the adaptation of elderly individuals to exercise. WhatsApp is an application that allows smartphone users to send short messages and other media types (such as videos) to their contacts. It also facilitates the creation of groups; this allows multiple users to participate in and follow a chat as a social network. Therefore, the WhatsApp application will be used in our study. All participants in our study will be added to a common chat group. It is known that older adults are positively affected by group interaction. It is thought that having group participants perform 5-minute Radio Taiso exercises for 6 weeks is important in terms of developing a regular exercise habit. Participants will be enrolled in a 6-week Radio Taiso exercise program delivered via WhatsApp. Physical performance and quality of life measurements will be conducted before and after the intervention. Regular feedback will be collected and recorded during the exercise program. Feedback will be obtained through surveys created via WhatsApp. Details of the study will be explained and tests will be conducted during preliminary interviews with participants. Data collection will be done via WhatsApp. The data collection process will be carried out twice, before and after the study.

Conditions

• Older Adults (60 - 85 Years Old)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Exercise	This study will utilize Radio Taiso exercises. The exercises will be conducted via WhatsApp. The aim of this 5-minute daily program is to instill an exercise habit in individuals over 60 years of age.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-10
• Primary completion: 2026-05-24
• Completion: 2026-05-31
• First posted: 2026-03-27
• Last updated: 2026-03-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)