NCT05758727

Homebased Strength and Tai-chi Exercise Snacking for Improving Physical Function in Older Adults

Completed NA Last updated 8 August 2023

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Exercise intervention in Older Adults in 90 participants. Completed in 31 July 2023.

Timeline

20 May 2022

Primary endpoint
23 June 2023

31 July 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Bath
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	none
Primary purpose	supportive care
Enrollment	90
Start date	20 May 2022
Primary completion	23 June 2023
Estimated completion	31 July 2023
Sites	1 location across United Kingdom

Drugs / interventions tested

• Exercise intervention

Conditions studied

• Older Adults — all drugs for Older Adults →

Sponsor

University of Bath

Who can join

65 and older, any sex, with Older Adults. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Engaging in muscle strength and balance (S\&B) exercises and has numerous health benefits for older adults, promoting greater mobility, reducing risk of falling, and overall improved health and wellbeing. Given the rising age of global populations, reducing the burden associated with lost physical function is essential to minimise health and social care costs. Unfortunately, very few older adults engage in sufficient S\&B exercise to reap these benefits, with a lack of time, self-efficacy and access to leisure facilities cited as the key barriers. Finding innovative ways promote an acceptable and engaging format of S\&B exercise is consequently a public health priority.

One novel way that aims to address typical barriers to participation in older adults is through the promotion of exercise 'snacks', as opposed to a more traditional, lengthy structured exercise session at a leisure centre. Exercise snacking describes short bursts of exercise that are designed to be undertaken over a short period in the home environment and without the need for any specialised exercise clothing or equipment. In the initial laboratory and cross-sectional and pilot intervention research, the investigators have been testing two formats of 5-minute, twice-daily, strength exercise- and tai-chi-snacking, which has been shown to be acceptable and feasible to implement in older adults. This protocol presents initial efficacy for evoking improved physical function in people aged 65 years or more. The investigators' remote study demonstrated that remote assessment and delivery of 4-week exercise and tai-chi snacking interventions were acceptable and feasible. However, qualitative feedback indicated that exercise programmes may be more acceptable and interesting with simpler tai-chi movements and exercise snacking programme with upper body movements. Nevertheless, the investigators only recruited healthy older adults, doing short-term interventions in previous studies. This study aims to test the effectiveness of progressive S\&B interventions over a sustained period in pre-frail older adults.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Validity and reliability of assessing strength and balance improvements by videoconference in pre-frail and frail older adults.
   Perkin OJ, Liang IJ, McKay CD, McGuigan P, et al · · 2025 · PMID 41313421 · DOI 10.1007/s40520-025-03268-1