Chronic Pain
Conditions
Brief 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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTai 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.
BEHAVIORALLight 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.
Sponsors
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age of 65 years and older * Multisite (2 or more sites) musculoskeletal pain * At least one fall in the past year, or currently on an assistive device * A sedentary lifestyle * Be able to walk 20-feet without personal assistance * Be able to communicate in English.
Exclusion criteria
* Regular Tai Chi practice * Unstable cardiac disease * Stroke * Rheumatoid arthritis * Degenerative neuromuscular disease * Parkinson's disease * Terminal disease * Dementing illness
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility and acceptability of the 12-week Tai Chi program | Over the 12-week intervention period | Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated by adherence, attendance, optimal program components, and safety. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognition | Before and after the 12-week intervention period | Attention was evaluated by using the Test of Everyday Attention (TEA) questionnaire. Executive function was evaluated by using the Trailmaking A and B tests questionnaire. |
| Physical function | Before and after the 12-week intervention period | Physical function was measured by using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) |
| Gait mobility | Before and after the 12-week intervention period | Single-task and dual-task gait function was determined by using the PKMAS software and Zeno walkway. |
| Pain characteristics | Before and after the 12-week intervention period | Pain severity and interference were evaluated by using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire. |
| Fear of falling | Before and after the 12-week intervention period | Fear of falling was measured using the Tinetti Falls Effi- cacy Scale. |
| Rate of falls | Over the 12-week intervention and 6 months following the intervention | Rate of falls were recorded by using monthly fall calendars. |
| Pain-related biomarkers | Before and after the 12-week intervention period | Levels of inflammatory markers and beta endorphin were determined by using biochemistry assays. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed