NCT07524361

Taekwondo Program for Preventing Falls in Older Adults

Evaluating a Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Program in Older Adults: a Feasibility Study

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of South Carolina · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Falls in older adults are a public health crisis, as 30% of older adults fall each year, with a mortality rate of 78%.1 Fall-related healthcare costs are over 50 billion dollars.1 Therefore, preventing older adults from falling is important in both individual and public health aspects by increasing their quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. However, the current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using a randomized controlled trial.

Conditions

• Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition
• Fall Prevention Education Control Condition

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo	Current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using RCT.
BEHAVIORAL	Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention	Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that provide overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provide tips to ensure the home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provide tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-13
• Primary completion: 2026-09-30
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2026-04-13
• Last updated: 2026-04-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States